View Flyer
Rx Refill
Directions
Staying healthy through Canada’s flu season takes planning. As the temperature drops, influenza viruses circulate widely across the country.
The flu is more than a bad cold. It is a serious respiratory infection that can disrupt your health, your work, and your family’s routine for weeks.
The flu shot remains your best protection against severe illness. Well-chosen over-the-counter (OTC) treatments can help ease symptoms and support recovery when the virus does strike.
This guide explains how influenza spreads, why annual vaccination matters, and which treatments may help for every stage of flu care.
What Influenza Is and How Does It Spread?
Influenza is a respiratory illness caused by influenza A and B viruses. These viruses thrive during colder months when people gather indoors.
Respiratory droplets
Coughing, sneezing, and even talking release droplets that carry the virus. Those droplets land in the mouths and noses of people nearby. Smaller airborne particles can also linger in poorly ventilated rooms.
Contaminated surfaces
The virus survives for a time on doorknobs, counters, keyboards, and phones. Touching a contaminated surface and then your eyes, nose, or mouth can introduce the virus.
The contagious window
You can spread the flu before you feel unwell. Most healthy adults are contagious from about one day before symptoms start until five to seven days after. Young children and people with weakened immune systems may spread it for longer.
Flu Symptoms to Watch For
Influenza usually arrives fast and hits hard.
Watch for these signs:
- Sudden high fever and chills, although adults over 65 often run a low-grade fever or none at all
- Deep fatigue and weakness
- Muscle aches and body pain, often the first symptom people notice
- Dry, persistent cough
- Headache, usually centered around the forehead or eyes
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose, though less prominent than with a cold
- Loss of appetite
The Mayo Clinic notes that symptoms can differ in children. Children are more likely to have ear pain, vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea.
Most healthy adults recover within seven to ten days. A lingering cough and low energy can last another week or two.
Who Is Most at Risk for Complications
Influenza can affect anyone. Some groups face a much higher risk of severe illness.
Adults 65 and older
Immune response weakens with age, which raises the risk of pneumonia and hospital stays.
Young children
Children under five have immune systems still learning to recognize new viruses. The flu can hit them harder and faster.
Pregnant individuals
Pregnancy changes the immune system, heart, and lungs. The Government of Canada publishes guidance on vaccines recommended during pregnancy.
People with chronic conditions
Asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and chronic kidney disease all complicate an influenza infection.
People with weakened immune systems
Cancer treatment, immunosuppressant medication, and some conditions all reduce your defence. Build a plan with your health care team before flu season peaks.
Health care workers and caregivers
Frequent contact with vulnerable people puts them at the front of the line for both exposure and protection.
Flu Vaccines in Canada
People often ask why the flu shot is needed every single year. There are two reasons. Protection fades over time, and the strains in circulation change from season to season. An updated formula is one more reason not to skip your shot. Last year’s antibodies were built against last year’s viruses.
In May 2026, the Public Health Agency of Canada released guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). Here is what it means for you.
Eligibility
NACI continues to recommend annual flu vaccination for everyone six months of age and older, unless contraindicated.
Timing
The vaccine prompts your immune system to build protective antibodies, and that takes about two weeks. Most provinces begin offering shots in early autumn. Booking by late October gives you coverage before peak season.
Dosing
Adults and children nine years and older need one dose each season. Children aged six months to under nine years need two doses the first time they are vaccinated, spaced at least four weeks apart. Children who have had one or more doses in any past season need only one dose per season going forward.
Co-administration
Flu vaccines can be given on the same day as other vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines. They can also be given at any time before or after.
Effectiveness
Even in years when the strain match is imperfect, vaccination still reduces severe illness and hospitalization.
Side effects are usually mild. Soreness at the injection site or a low-grade fever can be treated with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. The vaccine cannot give you influenza.
Who Benefits from Influenza Vaccination
Influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone six months of age and older. It is particularly important for people at greater risk of serious complications and for those who may transmit influenza to them:
- Children six months to 59 months of age
- Adults 65 years of age and older
- Pregnant women and pregnant individuals
- Adults and children with chronic health conditions, such as heart or lung disease
- Residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities
- Health care workers, caregivers, and household contacts of people at higher risk
If you think you are in a high-risk group or setting, speak with your RxHealthMed pharmacist or healthcare provider.
Can I Get the Flu Shot if I Am Sick?
Feeling under the weather leads many people to postpone their shot. Mild symptoms rarely prevent vaccination, but some situations call for a short delay.
Mild illness
A runny nose, mild cold, or slight fever usually does not stop you from getting vaccinated. Your pharmacist can assess you on the spot to confirm.
When to wait
If you are feeling quite unwell or have an infection that could spread to others, you may need to wait until you have recovered. Call the pharmacy before visiting so your pharmacist can advise you on when to get your flu shot. Waiting can also help avoid confusing symptoms of your illness with possible vaccine side effects. 
Treating the Flu at Home
Most mild cases can be managed safely at home with the right care and monitoring. Supportive treatment reduces discomfort while your immune system clears the virus.
Rest and hydration
Your body needs energy to fight the infection, and fluids replace what fever takes away.
Fever and pain control
Acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help reduce fever, headaches, and muscle aches. These medications are not suitable for everyone, so ask your pharmacist which option is right for you.
Do not give aspirin to children or teenagers with the flu because it has been linked to Reye syndrome, a rare but serious condition affecting the brain and liver.
Use caution when combining cold and flu products. Many contain the same ingredients, including acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and taking more than one product could cause you to accidentally take too much. Read the labels carefully and ask your pharmacist or another healthcare provider if you are unsure.
Symptom tools
Saline nasal irrigation, humidifiers, salt-water gargles, and menthol rubs can all help to reduce symptoms of congestion and sore throats.
Prescription antivirals
High-risk patients and those with severe symptoms may benefit from antivirals such as Tamiflu or Relenza. These are not cures, but they can possibly shorten illness by a day or two and lower the risk of complications. They work best when started within 48 hours of symptom onset, so speak with your pharmacist or physician early.
What to avoid
Do not try to power through your day. Pushing your body when it needs rest can prolong the illness and raise your risk of complications.
When to Seek Medical Care
Knowing when home care is not enough can prevent complications.
Red flags in adults
Difficulty breathing, persistent chest or abdominal pain, severe or prolonged fever, dehydration, sudden dizziness, severe vomiting, and confusion all require immediate medical attention.
Warning signs in children
Seek care right away for fast breathing, blue-tinted lips, a child who will not wake or interact, or a fever with a rash.
Symptoms that come back
Most people improve within seven to ten days. If you start to feel better and then get worse, book an appointment. A second wave of fever or a productive cough may signal a bacterial infection such as pneumonia.
High-risk individuals
Infants, seniors, pregnant individuals, and people with chronic illnesses should seek guidance early. That holds true even with moderate symptoms, because complications can develop quickly.
Possible Complications
The flu is taken seriously because of what can follow it:
- Pneumonia, the most common serious complication, which can be life-threatening
- Worsening chronic conditions, including asthma attacks and heart failure flare-ups
- Ear and sinus infections, particularly in children
- Dehydration and hospitalization, when fever and poor appetite lead to dangerous fluid loss
Prevention Habits That Work
A strong defence combines vaccination with daily habits that reduce exposure.
Get your annual flu shot
This remains the single most effective step. Pharmacists across Canada can administer it, often without an appointment. Book an appointment at your local RxHealthMed.
Wash your hands
Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or an alcohol-based sanitizer.
Cover coughs and sneezes
Use your elbow or a tissue.
Stay home when ill
Wait until you have been fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.
Clean high-touch surfaces
Pay extra attention to your phone, keyboard, and door handles.
Improve masking and ventilation
Masks in crowded indoor spaces and better airflow both lower the spread of respiratory viruses.
Support your immune system
Balanced meals, consistent sleep, and stress management all keep your immune response strong.
How Your Pharmacist Can Help
Your pharmacist is often the most accessible member of your health care team. At RxHealthMed, we can help you with:
- Flu vaccination, with convenient access to your annual shot
- Symptom relief, tailored to your symptoms, medications, and medical history
- Assessing next steps, including whether your symptoms need a doctor or emergency care
- Answering questions about antivirals, vaccine side effects, and prevention
Flu Prevention and Treatment FAQs
What is the best way to prevent the flu?
An annual vaccine combined with careful hand hygiene is the gold standard in flu prevention.
How long does influenza usually last?
Most people recover from the flu within one to two weeks, although fatigue can linger longer.
When should antiviral medications be started?
Antiviral medication ideally should be started within 48 hours of the first symptoms.
Can you get the flu after being vaccinated?
Yes, you can get the flu after being vaccinated, but the vaccine usually reduces the severity and duration of illness.
Should I stay home if I think I have the flu?
You should stay home if you think you have the flu. Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever ends without fever-reducing medicine.
When should I see a doctor instead of treating the flu at home?
You should see a doctor for trouble breathing, severe symptoms, or if you belong to a high-risk group.
Stay Protected All Season
Influenza is serious, but it is manageable. An annual flu shot paired with smart symptom care is the best defence for you and your community.
You do not have to sort through your symptoms or your options alone. Our pharmacists are ready with personalized recommendations, safe over-the-counter choices, and timely vaccination services.
Call or visit your local RxHealthMed pharmacy today to book your flu shot and get trusted advice for every stage of flu care.