The physician overseeing infection prevention and control at Collingwood General and Marine Hospital and the local Ontario Health Team are reiterating the importance of flu shots and COVID vaccines as well as other health tips to reduce the spread of respiratory illness over the holidays and the winter.
Dr. Mark Quigg, a family physician and the infection prevention and control lead for the local hospital, put out a video calling on the South Georgian Bay community for help to get the region through "what is going to be a very difficult winter."
"Time and again our community has come through when we needed you, unfortunately, the time has come once more when we need your help," he said in the video, noting the province's pediatric units are nearly all full as the latest round of flu and respiratory virus appears to be severely impacting young children.
The flu and respiratory virus, combined with the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has strained an already stretched healthcare system, noted the doctor.
"That's why we need your help," he said. "If it has been five months or more since your last COVID vaccine or over three months since you've had COVID, please consider getting the new bivalent booster, it will make a COVID infection much milder and help keep you out of hospital. Also, this really is the year to get your flu shot ... and it's safe to get them both at the same time."
He also suggested taking a rapid COVID test before family gatherings, particularly if there are medically vulnerable people who will be at the gathering.
The South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team has compiled some more health tips for preventing the spread of viruses this winter, including getting flu shots and COVID vaccines. You can learn more about both and book appointments on the South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team website.
COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine booster doses are available through community clinics, pop-up and GO-VAXX bus clinics and through pharmacy vaccine locations. You can ask your family doctor about getting your COVID-19 vaccine or vaccine booster dose or visit the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit vaccination webpage to find out where to get yours: www.simcoemuskokahealth.org//
"In addition to getting your COVID-19 vaccine, including vaccine booster doses, and flu shot, simple measures such as staying at home when you feel sick, washing your hands frequently, using hand sanitizer when hand washing isn’t possible, coughing or sneezing into your elbow, and avoiding touching your face can help keep you healthy," states a news release from the South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team.
Other tips from the health team include making sure there's good airflow and proper ventilation indoors, and making sure you get enough sleep, exercise, and nutritious food.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, Dr. Quigg, and the Ontario Health Team also suggest taking precautions like wearing a mask and keeping up physical distancing when in crowded places.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit has developed a Community Risk Level to help determine the best ways to protect yourself and others from infection and illness. As the risk-level increases, adding more layers of protection will help decrease your chance of respiratory infections. A COVID-19, Cold, Flu and Respiratory Care Clinic is also available by appointment, for people experiencing COVID-19, cold, flu or other respiratory symptoms who would like to see a doctor or nurse practitioner. Learn more: www.southgeorgianbayoht.ca. You can also call 211 for help accessing vaccine information and appointments for vaccination or at the respiratory care clinic.
