Updated COVID, seasonal flu vaccines now available in Ottawa for those at high risk

Both the COVID-19 and flu vaccines will be available to the general population as of the end of October or early November.

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Published Oct 11, 2023 • 2 minute read

COVID-19 and flu vaccines became available for high-risk groups in Ottawa as of Wednesday. Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia

The updated COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccines are now available in Ottawa for people considered at higher risk of serious outcomes from illness.

That group, which has been expanded from previous years, includes health-care workers and first responders; all children between six months and five years of age; residents of congregant living; people 65 and older; members of racialized communities; and those who are pregnant, among others.

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Vaccines became available for the high-risk group as of Wednesday. Residents of long-term care homes — who are considered the most vulnerable to complications from COVID-19 and flu, and who have made up a significant proportion of recent deaths — began getting vaccinated last month.

READ MORE: What you need to know about COVID-19 vaccines this fall

In a statement, Ottawa Public Health said it expects the 2023/24 respiratory season to be “atypical when compared to pre-pandemic years.” Among other things, this means three respiratory viruses — influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 will be circulating simultaneously. In the past few years, that phenomenon has been referred to as a triple-demic.

OPH recommends that everyone aged six months and over get the flu vaccine as well as the updated COVID-19 vaccine if it has been six months since their last COVID-19 vaccine or a known COVID-19 infection. Both vaccines can be given at the same time.

COVID-19 numbers have been rising steadily in Ottawa for weeks. In addition, RSV, which can be dangerous for very young children and the elderly, has begun circulating.

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Both the COVID-19 and flu vaccines will be available to the general population as of the end of October or early November.

Who is considered high-risk?

Health-care workers and first responders Residents and staff of congregate living settings (e.g., chronic care facilities, retirement homes) Pregnant individuals Individuals who are 65 years of age or older First Nation, Inuit or Métis people and their household members All children 6 months to under 5 years of age Individuals 6 months of age and older with underlying health conditions (per the National Advisory Committee on Immunization) Members of racialized and equity-deserving communities

To book an appointment for the updated COVID-19 vaccine:

COVID-19 vaccine appointments at OPH Community Clinics can be booked through the Ontario COVID-19 vaccination portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007).