What Canadians need to know
Health experts in Canada are warning of an early start to the flu season and urging citizens to get vaccinated. Dr. Isaac Bogoch emphasizes that while symptoms of flu, COVID-19, and RSV overlap, vaccination remains the most effective preventive measure.
Why it matters
Public health guidance is critical for managing seasonal respiratory virus surges and reducing hospital strain.
Flu season is getting an early start in Canada, and an infectious disease specialist says people should not wait for cases to surge before taking steps to protect themselves.
Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist, told CTV News Channel on Saturday that flu activity is appearing earlier than in recent years, while COVID-19 levels are in line with expectations and respiratory syncytial virus ( RSV ) activity remains low for now.
With respiratory viruses expected to circulate more widely through the fall, he says vaccination and simple preventive measures can help reduce the risk of illness.
The timing of vaccination is important because protection does not develop immediately after receiving a shot.
“We know once people get the vaccine, it’s going to take about 10 days to 2 weeks for an individual to achieve that level of immunity that we would like them to against the flu,” Bogoch said.
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