As children prepare to return to classrooms, health officials are cautioning parents to anticipate an uptick in respiratory viruses in the coming weeks. This warning coincides with a recent report indicating that vaccination rates among Canadians were below 50 percent last year.
According to data from Ontario Public Health, positivity rates for Influenza, COVID-19, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) remain low but are gradually increasing. Notably, the COVID-19 positivity rate in Ontario rose to 1.4 percent in mid-August, up from 0.4 percent in July, as per the latest reports.
Dr. Dale Kalina Samji from the Infectious Disease Division at McMaster University remarked, “When we look at this year, we have to reflect a little bit on what we saw last year, where we actually had a really rough flu season, particularly through December and January. It’s a reminder that flu seasons can be quite severe.” She noted that during those months, the hospital atmosphere felt reminiscent of previous COVID-19 waves.
Dr. Samji explained that respiratory illnesses typically begin to rise as temperatures drop and children head back to school and daycare. “These school-age children don’t live in isolation,” she said. “They contract infections and pass them to others, like their parents, younger siblings, and grandparents. It is the extremes of age that we worry about most regarding serious outcomes.”
Meanwhile, a report from Merck Canada reveals that 48 percent of Canadians surveyed did not receive any respiratory vaccines in the past year. Dr. Alan Kaplan, chair of the Family Physician Airways Group of Canada, expressed concern over these findings, stating, “That’s a low number. That figure declines further when considering individual vaccines. There’s a lack of awareness about the options available for protecting oneself, especially for those at higher risk.”
The survey found that only 44 percent of Canadians received the flu vaccine, while 34 percent were vaccinated against COVID-19 in the last year. Additionally, a significant 64 percent of respondents said they were unlikely to seek proactive discussions with healthcare professionals about preventing respiratory illnesses in the next six months.
Despite this, Dr. Kaplan noted that the survey indicated people generally trust their healthcare providers. “This is positive news, as clinicians are dedicated to helping you,” he said. He encouraged individuals not to hesitate in speaking with their clinicians or pharmacists about vaccination opportunities, emphasizing that “it’s much better to prevent an illness than to treat it.”
Health professionals insist that vaccination remains the most effective method of protection against respiratory illnesses. They also advise parents to keep children at home if they exhibit any symptoms of illness.
The survey was conducted online from June 18 to June 23, 2026, among 1,000 Canadians aged 25 to 75 via the Ipsos iSay panel. It has a margin of error of ±3.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
