Last updated: November 26, 2024
Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) provides some supports for people experiencing respiratory illness symptoms, including those related to cold, flu and COVID-19. However, supports for these health concerns are also available in the community.
Learn how to protect yourself, your family and your community from cold, flu, COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.
- What to do if you have cold, flu and COVID-19 symptoms
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Cold, flu and COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and sore throat. See a full list of symptoms.
If your symptoms are severe and potentially life-threatening (e.g. shortness of breath, chest pain), please call 9-1-1 immediately or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.
If your symptoms are not life-threatening, take the Ontario Government’s COVID-19 Self-Assessment for recommendations on what to do next. Recommended next steps may include self-isolating or, if you are at higher risk of severe illness, seeking COVID-19 testing and treatment like the Paxlovid pill.
- Where to get your PCR test results if you were tested at MGH
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If you received a Respiratory Virus Panel PCR test (which tests for influenza, COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses) at MGH, test results should be available within 48 hours. Please do not get a second test while you are waiting for results unless you are instructed to by a healthcare provider.
To check your Respiratory Virus Panel PCR test results, you will need the following information:
- First name
- Last name
- Date of birth
- Health card number or MRN (medical record number)
Check your Respiratory Virus Panel PCR test results USING THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT'S WEBSITE
If you received a Respiratory Virus Panel PCR test at another testing location, you may be able to check your results using the same website linked above. If you are not able to find your test results online, contact the testing location or the healthcare provider who performed the test to learn how to get your results.
- Where to get treatment for COVID-19
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Antiviral treatments for COVID-19 (including Paxlovid and Remdesivir) 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 meet specific eligibility.
- Where to get the COVID-19 vaccine
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COVID-19 vaccines are free and available to everyone aged six months and older. They are available at the following sites:
- Participating pharmacies
- Toronto Public Health clinics
- Participating primary care providers (e.g. your family doctor or nurse practitioner)
- Indigenous-led vaccination clinics
Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines, including eligibility and when you should get your next dose of the vaccine.
- Where to get the flu vaccine
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Flu vaccines are free and available to everyone aged six months and older. It is safe to get the flu vaccine at the same time as, or at any time before or after, the COVID-19 vaccine.
Flu season typically takes place during fall, winter and early spring. You should get a flu vaccine as soon as possible during this time as it takes two weeks to take effect.
You can get the flu vaccine at your family doctor, participating pharmacies or public clinics. Learn more about influenza and where to get the flu vaccine.
For the 2024-2025 season, we have collaborated with East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP), our Ontario Health Team (OHT), to implement a strategy to make the flu vaccine and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunization as accessible as possible for eligible people in East Toronto. Learn more about our strategy.
- Where to get RSV immunization
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In fall 2024, the Ontario Ministry of Health introduced a new Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) prevention program for infants and high-risk children. These groups can get the RSV vaccine through:
- Pregnant people (32-36 weeks gestation) delivering near or during the 2024-2025 cold and flu season can get the RSV vaccine through their prenatal care provider to protect their newborn. This vaccine is available through participating prenatal healthcare providers, primary care providers (e.g. family doctor or nurse practitioner) and midwives.
- For the 2024-2025 season, MGH is offering the RSV vaccine on-site to pregnant patients who are at 32-36 weeks gestation.
- Infants born in 2024-2025 and high-risk children up to 24 months can get monoclonal antibody treatment for immediate RSV protection. This is available through hospitals, birthing centers, primary care providers and specialty clinics.
- For the 2024-2025 season, MGH is offering Beyfortus, a monoclonal antibody RSV treatment, to eligible infants and children.
People aged 60 and older can also talk to their healthcare provider about getting the RSV vaccine. Learn more about RSV.
For the 2024-2025 season, we have collaborated with East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP), our Ontario Health Team (OHT), to implement a strategy to make the flu vaccine and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunization as accessible as possible for eligible people in East Toronto. Learn more about our strategy.
- Pregnant people (32-36 weeks gestation) delivering near or during the 2024-2025 cold and flu season can get the RSV vaccine through their prenatal care provider to protect their newborn. This vaccine is available through participating prenatal healthcare providers, primary care providers (e.g. family doctor or nurse practitioner) and midwives.
- Where to get more information about cold, flu, COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses