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Back to School Brings More Than Just the 3Rs Back to School Brings More Than Just the 3Rs
Carol Baldwin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Wakaw Recorder
With millions of Canadian children and youth returning to school, public health officials are urging families to get their shots for vaccine-preventable illnesses, including COVID, RSV, flu and measles.
Besides seasonal vaccines, experts stress Canadians need to stay up to date on their routine shots as well. Canada lost its official measles elimination status last November after recording more than 5,000 infections since late 2024, and more than 1,000 new cases just this year.
Data shows that just 85 percent of two-year-olds in Canada were fully vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella by the end of 2025, a far cry from the 95 percent medical experts say is needed population-wide to keep measles at bay. The same data shows less than 80 percent of children that age were fully vaccinated with the shot targeting diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough. (https://health-infobase.canada.ca/vaccination-coverage/starvax/children.html)
Common cold and flu viruses gain entry into our bodies primarily through our noses. Cold air cools the nasal passage and slows down mucus clearance, while dry air adds to the problem by dehydrating both the mucus and nasal passages. This provides the virus extra time and opportunities to breach protective barriers. Additionally, in the fall and winter months is that Canadians spend more time indoors as the weather becomes less hospitable, and crowded spaces help spread virus-laden droplets from person to person.
McMaster University immunologist Matthew Miller recommends that Canadians begin considering their options for seasonal vaccines now. He pointed out that last year saw an unusually severe and early peak in influenza cases. The body typically requires two to four weeks to reach peak immune response after receiving the shot, making early fall immunizations crucial to allow the immune system enough time to build protective immunity.
The latest federal surveillance report tracking influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) shows that low and stable levels of all three respiratory threats are set to come roaring back in the months ahead.
Compounding the situation this year is the return of El Niño. El Niño causes the Pacific jet stream to shift farther south, tending toward a warmer and drier weather pattern over the northern parts of the US and Canada and less snowfall over the northern Rockies.
A study by Olusegun Steven Ayodele Oluwole, Neurology Unit, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, titled “Seasonal Influenza Epidemics and El Niños” looked at the severity of seasonal influenza in relation to the occurrence of the El Niño weather pattern. The study concluded that the severity of seasonal influenza epidemics increases during El Niño, thereby indicating that forecast models of El Niño should be integrated into surveillance programs for influenza. In June, scientists said this El Niño “could be among the strongest we’ve seen over the past century”. The last event of this kind occurred in 2015-16 and resulted in a new global temperature record and a once-in-500-year drought in the Caribbean.
Individuals interested in assisting in influenza monitoring can participate in a program called FluWatchers. FluWatchers is an online health monitoring platform that helps track the spread of respiratory illnesses across Canada. Traditional disease tracking requires a person to see a health care practitioner and get tested, but most people with mild flu-like symptoms don’t seek any medical care. The FluWatchers program captures information on these individuals to get a better sense of flu-like illness in the community.
Anyone who lives in Canada can participate, and participants can also report on behalf of household members. To register, go to https://cnphi.canada.ca/fluWatcher/register
The Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) is a federally funded program to add coverage in under-covered areas or on under-covered issues. This content is created and submitted by participating publishers and is not edited. Access can also be gained by registering and logging in at: https://lji-ijl.ca
With millions of Canadian children and youth returning to school, public health officials are urging families to get their shots for vaccine-preventable illnesses, including COVID, RSV, flu and measles.
Besides seasonal vaccines, experts stress Canadians need to stay up to date on their routine shots as well. Canada lost its official measles elimination status last November after recording more than 5,000 infections since late 2024, and more than 1,000 new cases just this year.
Data shows that just 85 percent of two-year-olds in Canada were fully vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella by the end of 2025, a far cry from the 95 percent medical experts say is needed population-wide to keep measles at bay. The same data shows less than 80 percent of children that age were fully vaccinated with the shot targeting diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough. (https://health-infobase.canada.ca/vaccination-coverage/starvax/children.html)
Common cold and flu viruses gain entry into our bodies primarily through our noses. Cold air cools the nasal passage and slows down mucus clearance, while dry air adds to the problem by dehydrating both the mucus and nasal passages. This provides the virus extra time and opportunities to breach protective barriers. Additionally, in the fall and winter months is that Canadians spend more time indoors as the weather becomes less hospitable, and crowded spaces help spread virus-laden droplets from person to person.
McMaster University immunologist Matthew Miller recommends that Canadians begin considering their options for seasonal vaccines now. He pointed out that last year saw an unusually severe and early peak in influenza cases. The body typically requires two to four weeks to reach peak immune response after receiving the shot, making early fall immunizations crucial to allow the immune system enough time to build protective immunity.
The latest federal surveillance report tracking influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) shows that low and stable levels of all three respiratory threats are set to come roaring back in the months ahead.
Compounding the situation this year is the return of El Niño. El Niño causes the Pacific jet stream to shift farther south, tending toward a warmer and drier weather pattern over the northern parts of the US and Canada and less snowfall over the northern Rockies.
A study by Olusegun Steven Ayodele Oluwole, Neurology Unit, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, titled “Seasonal Influenza Epidemics and El Niños” looked at the severity of seasonal influenza in relation to the occurrence of the El Niño weather pattern. The study concluded that the severity of seasonal influenza epidemics increases during El Niño, thereby indicating that forecast models of El Niño should be integrated into surveillance programs for influenza. In June, scientists said this El Niño “could be among the strongest we’ve seen over the past century”. The last event of this kind occurred in 2015-16 and resulted in a new global temperature record and a once-in-500-year drought in the Caribbean.
Individuals interested in assisting in influenza monitoring can participate in a program called FluWatchers. FluWatchers is an online health monitoring platform that helps track the spread of respiratory illnesses across Canada. Traditional disease tracking requires a person to see a health care practitioner and get tested, but most people with mild flu-like symptoms don’t seek any medical care. The FluWatchers program captures information on these individuals to get a better sense of flu-like illness in the community.
Anyone who lives in Canada can participate, and participants can also report on behalf of household members. To register, go to https://cnphi.canada.ca/fluWatcher/register
The Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) is a federally funded program to add coverage in under-covered areas or on under-covered issues. This content is created and submitted by participating publishers and is not edited. Access can also be gained by registering and logging in at: https://lji-ijl.ca