Area residents encouraged to get their annual flu shot and the new COVID-19 XBB vaccine

Help keep everyone healthy during respiratory viral illness season

Whitby, Ontario – Respiratory viral illness season is here, and Durham Region Health Department is reminding area residents to protect themselves and others by getting their annual influenza (flu) vaccine and a dose of the new COVID-19 XBB vaccine.

The flu vaccine protects you from the influenza virus which causes a contagious respiratory viral illness, and the new XBB COVID-19 vaccine helps to protect against the new Omicron XBB variant. It is safe to receive the COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same time. Both vaccines are free and recommended for everyone six-months and older.

Receiving the flu and COVID-19 vaccines helps to reduce your chances of being infected with respiratory viral illnesses, and prevents severe illness and more serious complications, including hospitalization and death. Individuals six-months and older who have been previously vaccinated against COVID-19, are encouraged to receive a COVID-19 XBB vaccine if it has been at least six months, or 168 days, since their last COVID-19 vaccination or known COVID-19 infection.

Residents can receive the flu and COVID-19 XBB vaccines at the same time at select health care providers and participating pharmacies. For a list of pharmacies offering these vaccines visit ontario.ca/vaccine-locations.

Parents of children six-months to two-years old who do not have access to a health care provider but would like to have their children receive flu vaccine are encouraged to call Durham Health Connection Line at 905-668-2020 or 1-800-841-2729.

For more information about the flu vaccines visit durham.ca/flu. For more information about the COVID-19 vaccines, including Health Department community immunization clinics visit durham.ca/covidvaccines.

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For more information, please contact the Health Department.