Provincial government urges residents to get flu shots

The Ontario government has issued a notice urging residents to get the free flu vaccine. The provincial government said that last flu season there were almost 5,500 influenza-related hospitalizations in Ontario. Of these, 275 were flu-related deaths. The flu vaccine takes about two weeks to fully work. 

Influenza is an infectious disease and can lead to hospitalization or illness such as pneumonia, heart disease or other rare complications. If young children (especially those under the age of two), pregnant women and the elderly are infected with influenza, they are particularly prone to serious complications. 

Free vaccinations are available at family doctors, pharmacies participating in influenza programmes and public health communities.