Toronto Public Health urges flu, COVID-19 and RSV shots as respiratory season begins

Toronto Public Health is encouraging residents to stay current on influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus vaccines as respiratory virus season begins, the City of Toronto said in a release dated Nov. 3, 2026. The health unit said vaccination protects against serious illness and reduces the spread of respiratory viruses.¹

Free flu and COVID-19 vaccines are available to everyone aged six months and older through participating pharmacies and health-care providers across Toronto, according to the release. The health unit said vaccination matters most for people at higher risk of severe illness, including older adults, young children, pregnant individuals, people with underlying health conditions, health-care workers and first responders.¹

Clinic at North York Civic Centre

Toronto Public Health will hold a clinic for everyone aged six months and older on Thursday, Nov. 5, at North York Civic Centre, where residents can receive flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines, the release said. Additional clinics for young children run through the health unit's Etobicoke Civic Centre Breastfeeding Clinic and Ancestral Hands Midwives Breastfeeding Clinic in Scarborough.¹

Those clinics offer flu and COVID-19 vaccines for children aged six months to four years, as well as RSV immunization for eligible children under two years, according to the release. More information and appointments are available at www.tphbookings.ca, and residents can ask their health-care provider or pharmacist which vaccines are recommended for them and where to get them.¹

As the colder weather starts and we gather indoors more with family and friends, getting vaccinated is one of the best ways to protect ourselves and those we care about. In addition to reducing the risk of serious illness or other health complications, vaccination also eases the pressure on our health-care system. I encourage everyone to stay up to date with their recommended vaccinations this season.¹Dr. Michelle Murti, Medical Officer of Health, in a City of Toronto news release

Other ways to reduce spread

The health unit listed other steps residents can take to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses: staying home when sick, washing hands regularly, covering coughs and sneezes, wearing a well-fitted mask in crowded indoor settings when appropriate, and improving indoor ventilation when possible. More information is available at www.toronto.ca/RespiratoryViruses, the release said.¹

The release did not say how many doses the health unit has available, how many clinics it plans to run beyond those named, or how many people it hopes to reach this season. It also did not give current counts of flu, COVID-19 or RSV cases in Toronto.¹