Summerville wants to remind you to remain safe from respiratory illness by staying up to date on vaccines, practicing good hand hygiene and staying home when ill. Vaccines are critical in protecting you against serious illness.
The COVID-19 vaccine is available for everyone 6 months of age and older through:
It is strongly recommended that individuals at high risk as well as essential service workers get the COVID vaccine.
Free flu shots are also available at doctor and nurse practitioner offices, participating pharmacies and some public health units. To learn more, visit Ontario.ca/flu. Learn if you are part of these high priority groups. Summerville has a limited supply of flu vaccines available and will be providing vaccines to high priority groups first. We also encourage you to visit your local pharmacy, however, if you do receive your flu shot outside of our clinics, please let your doctor’s office know, especially if you are aged 65 and older. It is important for your overall health care that we have our records up to date.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of seasonal respiratory illness affecting the lungs and airways, infecting almost all newborns and children by two years of age. Immunization can help prevent serious outcomes, such as hospitalization. BEYFORTUS™ (nirsevimab) is the first and only single-dose immunization designed for the prevention of RSV disease. It is not a vaccine -- it is an injectable antibody (type of protein) that prevents severe disease and serious outcomes. Monoclonal antibodies do not activate the immune system, as would occur with infection or vaccination. Rather, the antibodies themselves protect against disease. Summerville has limited quantities of the 100 mg dose of nirsevimab and is offering RSV immunizations for babies born in 2024 and weighing more than 5kg. To learn more about the provincial RSV program, including information for older adults, parents and caregivers visit Ontario.ca/rsv.
If you are unsure about which vaccines you need, and when, speak to your health care provider.
If you are experiencing respiratory symptoms such as cough, sneezing, a stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, breathlessness, tight chest or wheezing, and feel that you need to see a physician or nurse practitioner, call your doctor’s office, visit our after-hours clinics for urgent needs (After-Hours Care (summervillefht.com), or if you have a child or youth 6 months to 17 years, you can also visit the Mississauga Paediatric Care Clinic@Summerville (Paediatric Care Clinic (summervillefht.com).
If you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and you might be eligible for antiviral treatments, it’s important that you get tested as soon as possible. Visit COVID‑19 vaccines | ontario.ca to find a local testing centre. Your primary care provider may also offer COVID-19 testing.
Antiviral treatments for COVID-19, such as Paxlovid, can prevent serious illness if you take them in the first few days after symptoms start. A physician, nurse practitioner or participating pharmacist may prescribe you antiviral treatment if you:
Find out if antiviral treatment may be right for you. Learn more about testing and treatment here: COVID‑19 testing and treatment | ontario.ca.
Stay safe this respiratory illness season and prevent unnecessary visits to the hospital by staying up to date on vaccinations.
Page updated: March 2025