Please find below Peel Public Health’s respiratory illness season key messages and data highlights for the period of November 30 to December 6.
This summary includes relevant details related to Peel’s respiratory illness landscape. The information is intended to help streamline public health messaging across our Peel system partners. Please reference this material as needed for any respiratory illness status updates and share the information with your respective staff and partners as relevant. Peel Public Health asks that our content not be changed. If supplemented, please indicate which portions are your own and which originate from Peel Public Health.
As this document pertains specifically to Peel’s respiratory season, please refer to the latest updates on Ontario’s respiratory virus situation by monitoring the Ontario Respiratory Virus Tool. For updates across Canada, consult the Canadian respiratory virus surveillance report (FluWatch+) on Canada.ca.
Additionally, Peel Public Health encourages health care providers to stay informed by subscribing to our Health Professionals Updates (HPU). This service shares timely and relevant public health information to support health professionals in the community. Interested individuals can sign up by visiting: Subscribe to Health Professionals Update (HPU) emails.
Peel Public Health would like to inform readers about its holiday operating hours. Please refer to the latest Health Professionals Update (HPU) for detailed information on the holiday schedules for various public health services: https://peelregion.ca/business/health-professionals/health-professionals-update-vol-18-no-31
| Data Highlights/Updates/Key Messages | |
| Key Highlights / Messages | In week 49, respiratory virus activity in Peel was moderate and increasing. Activity is expected to continue to increase over the next several weeks. Ontario has two respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prevention programs: Infants and high-risk children (which also includes pregnant individuals). Adults (expanded this year to include all individuals 75 years and older). Eligible individuals should speak with their health care provider about RSV immunization options. Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines continue to be recommended for all individuals 6 months and older. Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines are available at participating pharmacies and primary care clinics. Vaccine orders will not be processed from December 25, 2025 to January 1, 2026. Submit vaccine orders as early as possible to ensure adequate supply through this period and into January 2026. No one intervention on its own is 100% effective at preventing the spread of respiratory infections, but practicing multiple public health measures provides the best protection. Community members can: Get vaccinated and stay up to date with vaccinations. Stay home when sick, and if unable to stay at home, wear a mask and avoid vulnerable populations, such as the elderly or immunocompromised. Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hand. In health care settings, this may include: Return of masking policies and other measures (e.g., active screening) based on epidemiology and provincial recommendations. |
| Current Peel Respiratory Virus Activity | In week 49, ending December 6, 2025, overall respiratory activity in Peel was moderate and increasing. Influenza activity continues to increase across all indicators. In week 48, percent positivity was highest for influenza (26.1%), followed by enterovirus/rhinovirus (10.3%), COVID-19 (5.0%) and RSV (4.8%). Since September 1, 2025, Influenza A (H3N2) continues to be the dominant circulating influenza strain in Peel (76% of reported samples). Eight new outbreaks were declared in week 49, including 3 new Influenza A outbreaks and 3 COVID-19 outbreaks. Since September 1, 2025, respiratory outbreaks in Peel have been driven by COVID-19 (n=25), rhinovirus and/or enterovirus (n=18), and influenza (n=12). In weeks 48 and 49, overall ILI emergency department visits increased, as did admissions in children aged 0-4 years and adults 65+ years related to ILI, respiratory or pneumonia syndromes. Detailed epidemiologic updates can continue to be found weekly on Wednesdays at: Peel Respiratory Virus Activity report . For a list of current (open) outbreaks visit: Ongoing Institutional Outbreaks. |
| Testing eligibility, availability and Infection Prevention & Control (IPAC) Updates | The Ministry of Health (MOH) recommends a Test-to-Treat approach for respiratory viruses. Individuals must be symptomatic to meet the current eligibility criteria. Refer to the following links for testing eligibility: Respiratory Viruses (including influenza) | Public Health Ontario COVID19 testing and treatment | ontario.ca |
| Vaccine Updates | Ordering information/updates: Peel Public Health is accepting orders for influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 immunizations. Place your vaccine orders through the Peel Health Professionals Portal. Orders can now be picked up at any of the following locations: 10 Peel Centre Drive in Brampton 7120 Hurontario Street in Mississauga 325 Central Parkway West, Unit 21, Mississauga Alternatively, orders can be delivered through a paid courier service offered by Critical Path Ltd. Vaccine orders will not be processed from December 25, 2025 to January 1, 2026. Please submit orders as early as possible to ensure adequate supply through this period and into January 2026. RSV Prevention Programs: RSV is a major cause of lower respiratory illness affecting the lungs and airways, particularly among infants, young children, and older adults. Ontario has two prevention programs to help provide protection for these vulnerable populations: Infant and High-risk Children RSV prevention program For eligibility information and immunization recommendations, please refer to: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) prevention programs | ontario.ca Infants born during the 2025-26 RSV season will be offered Beyfortus® in hospital before discharge. Infants and children up to 24 months old at high-risk of severe illness and eligible pregnant individuals can also receive their immunization from their health care provider. For more information on the RSV prevention program and where to get immunized visit: https://peelregion.ca/health/diseases-infections/respiratory-syncytial-virus Older Adult High-Risk RSV vaccine program For eligibility information and immunization recommendations, please refer to: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) prevention programs | ontario.ca RSV vaccine is available at participating primary care clinics and walk-in clinics (publicly funded RSV vaccine is NOT available at pharmacies). For more information on the RSV prevention program: https://peelregion.ca/health/diseases-infections/respiratory-syncytial-virus Influenza Vaccine This season the influenza vaccine continues to be recommended for all individuals 6 months and older. For more information on the Influenza vaccine program, program eligibility criteria, and recommendations visit: https://peelregion.ca/health/diseases-infections/flu COVID-19 Vaccine This season the COVID-19 vaccine continues to be recommended for all individuals 6 months and older. Both this season’s COVID-19 vaccine products (Moderna Spikevax and Pfizer BioNTech Comirnaty) were updated to target the LP.8.1 variant, replacing the previous KP.2 version of the vaccine. Both publicly funded COVID-19 vaccines are equivalent and are expected to provide the same protection against COVID-19 disease. For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine program, program eligibility criteria, and recommendations visit: https://peelregion.ca/health/vaccinations/covid-19-vaccines Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines are available at participating pharmacies and primary care clinics. |
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