Hamilton Urges Residents: Get Your Flu & COVID Shots Before Winter Sets In
As Hamilton residents unpack sweaters and prepare for cozy indoor gatherings, city health officials deliver an important seasonal message: Arm yourself against respiratory threats before winter arrives.
"When furnace systems kick on and windows stay shut, we see illness transmission increase," explains Public Health Director Michelle Thompson. "This year, we're especially concerned about dual protection."
The city's autumn vaccination campaign urges residents to get both flu and COVID-19 shots, noting that vulnerable populations including seniors, young children, and immunocompromised individuals face heightened risks. Mobile clinics will deploy to community centers while pharmacies expand evening and weekend appointment availability.
Why dual protection matters:
- Flu hospitalization rates rose 40% last winter
- New COVID variants demonstrate increased transmissibility
- Simultaneous infections ("flurona") can overwhelm immune systems
Across Hamilton, familiar sights return: pop-up clinics at libraries, vaccine buses outside schools, and multilingual information campaigns. The city's online booking portal now allows residents to schedule both vaccinations in a single appointment.
"We learned valuable lessons during the pandemic," says Thompson. "This year, we're applying that knowledge to routine seasonal protection."
Where to vaccinate:
- Public health clinics (walk-ins accepted)
- Partner pharmacies
- Mobile clinics (schedule at hamilton.ca/vaxmobile)
As leaves blanket the city's celebrated escarpment trails, health workers prepare for another kind of coverage—vaccine protection that keeps hospital beds available for emergencies rather than preventable illnesses.
"It takes twenty minutes to get protected," reminds Thompson. "Those twenty minutes might save your winter."