Ottawa Public Health Update: Respiratory illness & older adults
Respiratory Illness & Older Adults
Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has a few helpful reminders for older adults and their loved ones during the respiratory illness season. We hope you will find this information helpful as you, your loved ones, and your family navigate this respiratory illness season. For more information, please visit OPH’s Respiratory Virus webpage.
What to do if you have symptoms
Common symptoms of respiratory illnesses include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath, muscle aches, fatigue, vomiting/diarrhea, abdominal pain.
Stay home until you are fever-free (without using fever-reducing medication) AND your symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (48 hours for vomiting/diarrhea).
If you can’t stay home: wear a well-fitting mask and avoid non-essential mask-less activities for 10 days from when symptoms started.
Don’t visit individuals who are at high-risk of severe illness including people in long-term care, retirement homes or in hospital.
Reducing the spread of respiratory illness
Keep your vaccinations up to date including getting your annual flu vaccine and any COVID-19 doses you are eligible for.
Wash your hands often and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
Disinfect high-touch surfaces in your home and workplace.
Wear a mask:
To protect yourself from viral respiratory illnesses;
To protect people who are at higher risk of severe respiratory illness; and
When you’re recovering from illness.
Testing and Treatment
COVID-19
If you have symptoms of respiratory illness and are at higher risk for severe outcomes or complications from COVID-19, free rapid antigen tests (RATs) are available to support getting access to COVID-19 antiviral treatment, like Paxlovid.
Ottawa residents are able to access RAT kits through various locations across the city, like libraries and existing OPH services, including neighbourhood hubs and community clinics. A new location has also been added at 100 Constellation Drive in Nepean.
Visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca/COVIDTesting to learn more about where to access free rapid antigen tests (RATs) across the city and to learn more about antiviral treatment.
Speak to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about antiviral treatment (Paxlovid), treatment with Paxlovid is available and must be taken within a few days of symptoms starting to be effective.
Influenza (flu)
Most people who get influenza (flu) do not need medical treatment and can manage their symptoms at home.
Individuals at higher risk of becoming very sick from the flu may be able to get antiviral medication to lessen the severity of the symptoms and help prevent complications. You do not need to test positive for the flu to receive antiviral medication for the flu.
Those at higher risk for complications from the flu include:
Adults 65 years of age and older
Pregnant persons and persons up to four weeks post-partum
Those with underlying medical conditions
If you have flu-like symptoms and you are at higher risk, you can contact your health care provider when your symptoms start. In most cases, antiviral medication should be started within the first 48 hours (about 2 days) of when symptoms started.
Don’t have a primary care provider? You can talk to your local pharmacist to inquire about antiviral treatment availability.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccination
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is another respiratory virus that can cause severe illness in individuals who are at higher risk, like older adults.
The province is currently publicly funding a High-Risk Older Adult RSV Vaccine Program, which means that the vaccine is free for individuals 60 years and older who qualify based on the following criteria:
Living in long-term care homes;
Living in Elder Care Lodges;
Residents of retirement homes licensed to provide dementia care;
Patients in hospital receiving alternate level of care (ALC);
Patients receiving hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis;
Recipients of solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplants;
Individuals experiencing homelessness; and
Individuals who identify as First Nations, Inuit or Métis.
Individuals who are eligible are encouraged to check with the setting in which they are eligible (such as their hospital specialist or retirement home) for information on how to get the vaccine.
Individuals who are not eligible can visit the provincial website for more information on how to obtain a prescription and purchase the vaccine.