{"id":242278,"date":"2026-01-05T15:37:32","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T20:37:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ottawahospital.on.ca\/?p=242278"},"modified":"2026-03-12T13:25:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T17:25:36","slug":"flu-season-101-a-quick-guide-to-keeping-the-sniffles-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ottawahospital.on.ca\/en\/healthy-tomorrows\/flu-season-101-a-quick-guide-to-keeping-the-sniffles-away\/","title":{"rendered":"Flu season 101: A quick guide to keeping the sniffles away"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Love it or hate it \u2014 sweater weather has officially arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, now that we\u2019re spending more time indoors with each other, flu season is beginning to rear its stuffy, congested head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully, there are some easy steps you can take to help keep the sniffles at bay\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But first, what exactly is the flu?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The flu, or seasonal influenza, is a serious viral infection that affects your nose, throat and lungs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can catch the flu when your mouth, nose or eyes are sprayed with droplets \u2014 like when someone coughs, sneezes or even talks. You can also get it by touching your face after your hands have come in contact with the virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not always easy to tell if you have the flu, but the symptoms are usually cough, fever, fatigue and muscle aches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should I get the annual flu shot?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If there\u2019s one thing you take away from this guide, it\u2019s this: getting vaccinated every year is the single most effective way to prevent the flu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf I had to create a list of things to do this flu season, this would be at least numbers one, two and three,\u201d emphasizes infectious diseases expert Dr. Michaeline McGuinty with a smile \u2014 a smile that\u2019s subtle enough to let you know she\u2019s serious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people think the flu is just like the common cold. But while the common cold is relatively harmless, the flu can lead to serious complications like pneumonia, heart attacks and even death. The flu is estimated to cause about 12,200 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths in Canada each year, according to the Government of Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if you got your flu shot last year, you should still get it again this year. That\u2019s because the influenza virus changes from year to year \u2014 and the vaccine is updated to protect against the latest strains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Infectious
Meet infectious diseases expert Dr. Michaeline McGuinty.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How do I get my shot?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Starting October 27, the flu vaccine will be available to the general public. That means all people aged six months and older who live, work or go to school in Ontario are eligible to get vaccinated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a few ways you can get your shot. You can check with your primary care provider to see if they offer it, but did you know that you can also get vaccinated at your local pharmacy? Just be sure to contact them first to see if they have it available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More helpful tips for a sniffle-free sniffle season<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While getting vaccinated is the number one way to avoid catching the flu, there are other precautions you can take to further reduce your risk and protect others:<\/p>\n\n\n\n