Hospitals across Ontario are in a race against time to convince healthcare staff to get their annual flu shots, as new data reveals a troubling and sustained decline in vaccination rates among those on the front lines. This drop comes at a critical moment, with public health officials bracing for what is predicted to be a severe influenza season.
A Steep Decline in Vaccination Coverage
According to recent statistics from Public Health Ontario, fewer than one-third of all hospital workers in the province received a flu vaccine last year. The coverage rate was a mere 32.7 per cent, a stark contrast to the 62.7 per cent of workers who were immunized during the 2020-21 season. The data indicates a steady downward trend, and if it continues, this year's numbers could be similarly low or even worse.
The situation is equally concerning in long-term care settings, where residents are among the most vulnerable to severe complications and death from influenza. Vaccination rates for long-term care staff have plummeted from 86 per cent in 2020-21 to 61.7 per cent last year.
Hospitals Scramble to Boost Uptake
Unlike some other vaccines, the annual flu shot is not mandatory for healthcare employees in Ontario. However, employers are required to track and report their staff's vaccination rates. Officials note that the reported numbers are likely an undercount, as they primarily capture shots administered within hospitals. Workers who get vaccinated at a pharmacy or elsewhere are often missed in the tally.
Despite this, the declining trend is clear, and many institutions are actively working to reverse it. Public health targets aim for around 80 per cent coverage for hospital workers and 90 per cent or higher for long-term care staff—goals that are currently far from being met.
Ann Fuller, a spokesperson for Queensway Carleton Hospital, expressed confidence that actual vaccination numbers are higher than the data suggests. She also noted that frontline health workers at their facility are required to show proof of vaccination if an influenza outbreak occurs in their work area.
Expert Confirms a National Concern
The pattern observed in Ontario aligns with what infectious disease expert Dr. Gerald Evans is witnessing. Dr. Evans, who is the chair of the division of infectious diseases at Queen's University and the medical director of infection prevention and control at Kingston Health Sciences Centre, reports hearing similar concerns from colleagues at hospitals across Canada.
This collective decline in immunization among those who care for the sick and elderly poses a significant public health risk, especially as the country prepares for a potentially harsh flu season that kills hundreds of Canadians annually.
