If you notice a lot of people with the sniffles around town lately despite the double-digit temperatures, you’re not alone. Doctors are warning that respiratory illness season is hitting the Greater Toronto Area a little earlier than usual this year. “The data does suggest that we may be on a little bit of an early uptick for respiratory viruses, especially the influenza data,” said Dr. Fahad Razak, an internist at St Michael’s Hospital and Canada Research Chair in Healthcare Data and Analytics at the University of Toronto. “It does take a little while to really know if we’re on that trajectory, but I do think that there is some suggestive features to say that we’ve started a bit early.” In terms of the reason why respiratory illness season starts earlier some years, he said that remains an area “of intense research,” but added that we usually benefit in Canada from seeing how flu season plays out in the southern hemisphere first. “That gives us some information. We look at the kind that’s circulating each year. So this year, the kind that’s circulating is called H1N1. That seems to be the most common version, and the kind that’s circulating can sometimes predict whether you’re having an early season or a late season.” Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases specialist at Toronto General Hospital, told CP24 in an interview that he’s also observed an early start to the season. “We are seeing an earlier start to the flu season in many regions,” Bogoch said. He said it would have been good to have earlier access to the flu and COVID-19 shots, but he expects the early season will mean strong uptake when the vaccines are available. “I think we will see some rather quick uptake of these vaccines when they are available because we are seeing a bit of an early start to the season in some locations,” he said. Ontario began vaccinating high-risk groups on Sept. 28, but shots will only become available to the general public starting on Oct. 26. That’s when anyone six months of age and older will be able to get a shot through pharmacies, doctors’ offices and public health units. Razak said the rollout of the vaccine is usually timed so that people reach peak immunity when virus levels are highest – typically around mid-December. “If we see that that rise really looks like it’s going to take off and you know sort of have a significant amount of volume of infections in November, we may be pushing people to really get vaccinated quickly as soon as it becomes available,” he said, adding that rollouts can even be moved forward if warranted. “I don’t think there’s anything to suggest that’s needed right now, but you may get a message that says, ‘Okay, looks like flu season’s coming faster. Vaccine is now available. We’d encourage as many people as possible to go out and get vaccinated,’” he said. With Thanksgiving and Halloween arriving before many people will have a chance to get a shot, Razak said people should practice good handwashing and stay home if sick. “If you’re sick, reduce exposure to work colleagues, to school colleagues, to family members and stay home until you’re feeling better,” Razak said. “Masks still work for all of these viruses.” Vaccination still important Pointing to vaccination rates that dropped off and haven’t recovered since the pandemic, Razak said people need to know that vaccines, particularly the flu vaccine, are still important. “They are an insurance policy. It’s like putting on a seatbelt when you get in a car,” he said. “They’re not perfect, but they reduce the risk of getting infected. And if you do get infected… it reduces the severity. “Maybe you’re only home a day, and then you’re back to work or school, as opposed to ending up in a hospital.” He noted that flu can cause serious illness, or even death in some cases, in small children as well as in older people. “As a physician in hospital who runs the ward where patients get admitted with flu, with COVID, with RSV, I often hear regret every year, with people saying, ‘Oh, you know, I wish I got vaccinated. I probably wouldn’t be in hospital if I got vaccinated.’ And we know that that is true from the data.” Razak pointed out that RSV is another virus that can be dangerous for children and elderly patients, and said those groups should take advantage of Ontario’s vaccination program. “Unfortunately, RSV is one of the leading causes of children ending up in hospital, and it is it is an important cause of older adults ending up in hospital,” he said. “These vaccine and protections are relatively new, and they’re very effective.” Testing not necessary for most people While some people still wonder if they need to get tested if sick. Razak said it’s only beneficial in cases where treatments are needed. “So, for example, we have medications that we can offer for people with COVID who are high risk, or people who have influenza who are high risk that will reduce the severity of infection,” Razak said. “For the general public, a healthy 30-year-old getting sick, the role of testing is really reduced at this point.” He said for those wanting to get tested to know whether they can be around someone who is higher risk, they should likely avoid that person if they are feeling unwell, regardless of whether it is COVID, flu or another illness.
