Influenza

The Influenza vaccine (the flu shot) begins to provide protection within 1-2 weeks and the protection usually lasts several months. The flu shot reduces the chance of getting influenza and can help reduce the length and severity of the illness. It will not protect against other illnesses that resemble the flu such as the common cold or Covid-19. The flu shot does not cause influenza.

Most patients do not have side effects after the flu shot. The shot is given into a muscle and this may cause soreness at the injection site for a few days. Occasionally, a person may experience mild fever, redness, swelling or achiness for a few days after the shot.  If you experience persistent fever, redness, swelling or weakness, please contact our office.

Ontario Influenza information can be reviewed here.

To learn about the publicly-funded influenza vaccines that are available in Ontario for the 

2024-2025 season please click here.

The 2024 flu season will soon be here in Ontario. As per national and provincial guidelines, all healthy individuals 6 months and older are recommended to obtain the flu shot.  

PLEASE NOTE WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO ADMINISTER THE FLU VACCINE TO PATIENTS OF OUR CLINIC.

Public Health will distribute a limited quantity of vaccines to our office for all patients who are at high risk. This includes:

GROUP A (please see Section A for clinic dates and booking instructions)

o All patients 65 and older (recommended to get the high dose flu shot)

o Indigenous peoples

o Pregnant women and their household members

o Adults with chronic conditions (such as cancer, diabetes, heart, lung, liver and kidney disease)

GROUP B (please see Section B for clinic dates and booking instructions)

o Children 6 months to 4 years and those who care for them

o Children with chronic conditions (such as cancer, diabetes, heart, lung, liver and kidney disease)

o Any patient listed in Group A who is receiving the flu shot for the first time

GROUP C (please see Section C for booking instructions)

o Member of Group A & B who cannot attend the high-risk clinic dates

o All other members of our patient population not listed above

Please review the Flu Shot Consent form at the bottom of this page BEFORE requesting a flu shot appointment. If you answer yes to any of the questions 1-6, please call our office to book an appointment with your doctor to discuss your flu shot eligibility. If you answer no to questions 1-6, please proceed to request your flu shot appointment. There is NO NEED to print the consent form and bring it with you as we will review it verbally at check-in.

If you are symptomatic with COVID-19, you are required to be symptom free for 24 hours (48 for gastrointestinal manifestations) before receiving a flu shot. If you receive your flu shot elsewhere or fall ill prior to your appointment, please cancel online via Medeo or by calling our office. 

Please note this year the flu shot will be also be available at most pharmacies for all individuals age 2 and older, including high dose flu shots for 65 and older. Please notify us if you receive your flu shot outside of our office by leaving a message on extension 234 so we can update your medical record.

SECTION A

For our high risk patients, we will be holding our annual drive-through flu shot clinics BY APPOINTMENT ONLY in the parking lot of our building on the following dates:

· Saturday, October 19, 2024; 9am-1pm

· Saturday, October 26, 2024; 9am-1pm

NEW THIS YEAR - Please do not bring children under 5 years, children who need to be held by a parent, or any person who has a fear of needles to the Saturday clinics. Please do not attend the Saturday parking lot clinic if you are receiving the flu shot for the first time. Please see Section B for alternate dates and booking instructions.

To book a drive-through flu shot appointment for our Saturday clinics, please log in to your Medeo account and click BOOK. Select your doctor’s name and click next. Select the appointment type: DVMA – Parking Lot Flu Shot Clinic and click next, then choose the date and time and click next. On the next screen you must enter the reason for your appointment - flu shot. If you plan to bring another DVMA patient in the car, please also enter their name in this field, maximum of 2 patients per car. On the next screen you will be able to review the appointment you are requesting, then click request. You will receive an email from Medeo confirming your appointment request. Once our office has confirmed your appointment, you will receive a separate confirmation email from Medeo. 

Please wear loose fitting clothing so that your arm is easily accessible. Please arrive ON TIME (not early or late) to minimize the lineup of cars. There is a 15 minute grace period for free parking.  We CAN NOT validate parking, so please honor your appointment time to keep the line moving smoothly. Upon arrival, please take a ticket to enter the parking lot and proceed to the west entrance to the covered parking area to check in. REMAIN IN YOUR VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES. Use the parking ticket you took when entering to exit the parking lot for free (as long as you are within the 15 minute grace period). WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO ADMINISTER FLU SHOTS TO PATIENTS IN A VEHICLE.

SECTION B

For our high risk CHILD patients and those high risk patients receiving the flu shot for the first time, we will be holding IN OFFICE flu shot clinics BY APPOINTMENT ONLY on the following dates:

· Monday, October 21, 2024; 5-7pm

· Wednesday, October 23, 2024; 1:30-3:30pm

· Monday, November 25, 2024; 5-7pm

· Wednesday, November 27, 2024; 1:30-3:30pm

If your child is between the ages of 6 months and 9 years AND receiving their flu shot for the first time, they will need a booster at least 4 weeks from their first shot. We suggest that you come for their first dose during one of our October clinics to ensure they receive their second dose in time to be fully protected for the flu season.

To book an in office appointment for your child who is under 5 or has a chronic health condition, please log in to your Medeo account and click BOOK. Select DVMA Injection clinic and click next. Select the appointment type: DVMA – Child Flu Shot Clinic and click next, then choose the date and time and click next. On the next screen you must enter the reason for your appointment - flu shot. If you plan to bring another DVMA patient (ie you have multiple children), please also enter their name in this field. On the next screen you will be able to review the appointment you are requesting, then click request. You will receive an email from Medeo confirming your appointment request. Once our office has confirmed your appointment, you will receive a separate confirmation email from Medeo. If your child does not have a Medeo account, but you do (AND you are a patient of our clinic AND you plan to receive the flu shot at the same time as your child), book the appointment in your name and list your child(ren) and/or partner as the reason for the appointment. Otherwise you may call our office to book.

SECTION C

High risk individuals who cannot attend one of these clinics and all other patients will be able to book an in office flu shot appointment for time slots in November and December 2024. These appointments will be made available for booking on Monday, October 28, 2024 via Medeo or with a receptionist. When requesting these appointments on Medeo, please select DVMA Injection Clinic from the list of providers rather than your doctor’s name and choose DVMA – In Office Flu Shot as the appointment type. Flu shots will not be administered without an appointment.