Reduce the Spread of Respiratory Viruses

Good afternoon Parents/Guardians/Caregivers,

Below, please find a message from Toronto Public Health with important information to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses this fall and winter.

October 26, 2023

Re: Reduce the Spread of Respiratory Viruses

Dear Parents/Guardians/Caregivers,

You and your child play an important part in protecting our school communities to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses this fall and winter:

Reduce virus spread

• Stay home if sick or have symptoms of being sick, even if they are mild.

• Use the TPH screening questionnaire or the provincial COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool before attending school or work if there are symptoms of illness.

• Clean hands often.

• Cover their cough or sneeze with a tissue or their elbow.

• Wear a well-fitted, high-quality mask in crowded indoor settings with poor ventilation, especially if at higher risk of getting very sick

Get the updated COVID-19 and flu vaccine this fall

• Both vaccines are important to prevent serious illness.

• The updated COVID-19 vaccine targets the XBB variant and will better protect from the variants spreading now and long-COVID.

• Everyone six months and older can get the updated COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccine starting October 30^th, 2023 at:

• Toronto Public Health fixed-site vaccination clinics. Book an appointment at TPHbookings.ca. Only one appointment is needed to get both vaccines.

• Participating pharmacies or health care provider’s office.

It is also important to have your child up-to-date with routine vaccinations

• In Ontario, the Immunization of School Pupil Act (ISPA) requires all students to be up-to- date with certain vaccines, or have a valid exemption. This includes vaccinations for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, pertussis, meningococcal and chickenpox.

  • Toronto Public Health (TPH) will be sending letters to some parents to ensure their child is compliant with the ISPA legislation.

  • Parents must report any vaccines not given by TPH through Immunization Connect (ICON).

  • Students who are not up-to-date can be suspended from school.

• Students in grades 7 to 12 can get the hepatitis B, human papillomavirus (HPV) and meningococcal vaccines through the Student Immunization Program (SIP).

  • How to get these free vaccines:

  • SIP school clinics will offer hepatitis b, human papillomavirus (HPV) and meningococcal vaccines during school hours to grade 7 and 8 students who attend the school. Visit the School Immunization Program webpage to see the school clinic schedule.

    • TPH fixed-site vaccination clinics. Book an appointment at TPHbookings.ca.

    • A health care provider’s office. Ask your health care provider to order these vaccines for free from TPH and report it through ICON.

More Information

Visit toronto.ca/health to learn more about:

• Respiratory Viruses: Information for Parents & Caregivers

• Childhood Vaccines – Quick Reference Guide

Questions?

Contact Toronto Health Connection at 416-338-7600 or PublicHealth@toronto.ca.

Sincerely,

Nicole Welch BSc., MSc., RN
Director/Chief Nursing Officer
Child Youth Health and Development
Toronto Public Health