Communications Toolkit

Respiratory Illness Season

Welcome! On this page you will find communication products and resources developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada, including posters, videos, social media content, and more. You can download, use and share these resources through your channels to create awareness and engage audiences. We hope these resources complement and support your efforts in reducing the spread of respiratory illnesses this season.

Learn more: How to reduce the spread

Key Messages

Respiratory illnesses can be caused by viruses like the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19.
- These viruses usually increase in the fall and winter months, as people spend more time indoors where spread is more likely to occur.
- They can spread from person to person or by touching contaminated surfaces and objects.

2. Stay up to date with recommended vaccines. The flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines provide strong protection against serious illness.

3. Protect your family, your community and yourself by using personal protective measures. Combine actions to reduce the risk of getting or spreading a respiratory illness:

stay home when you're sick
wear a well-fitting respirator or mask
clean your hands regularly

4. Preventing respiratory illness protects everyone, especially those at risk of serious complications, and eases pressure on our health care system.

Adaptable Social Media Messages

Audience: General Population

Download Facebook and Instagram Stories

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Join FluWatchers, a volunteer program that tracks how the flu, RSV and COVID-19 spread across Canada. It’s quick and easy, just 15 seconds a week via a secure and anonymous portal. You’ll get a short email asking if anyone in your household had a cough or fever. Your answers will help public health experts spot outbreaks early and plan better responses. Anyone can join and you can report for your whole household. Sign up today and be part of the movement to keep Canadians healthy: FluWatchers - Canada.ca

View Video

Respiratory illnesses are often caused by viruses like the flu, COVID-19, and RSV. They can spread from person to person and by touching contaminated surfaces and objects. Hand hygiene is one way you can help reduce your risk of getting or spreading respiratory illnesses. Clean your hands regularly with soap and water or hand sanitizer. Learn about all the other ways you can prevent respiratory illnesses: Respiratory infectious diseases: How to reduce the spread with personal protective measures - Canada.ca

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Reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses this fall and winter with these simple actions:

Stay home when you're sick.
Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces and objects.
Wear a well-fitting mask or respirator when appropriate. For example, in crowded places or when you're sick and must enter a public setting.
Clean your hands regularly. - Cover your coughs and sneezes.
Improve indoor ventilation by opening a window or door.
Stay up to date with recommended vaccines. The flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines provide strong protection against serious illness.

Learn more: Respiratory infectious diseases: Break the chain of infection - Canada.ca

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Preventing respiratory illness protects everyone, especially those at risk of serious complications. It also eases pressure on our health care system. It starts with you! Take action to reduce your risk of getting or spreading a respiratory illness. Respiratory infectious diseases: How to reduce the spread with personal protective measures - Canada.ca

View Video

Respiratory illnesses are quick to catch and important to prevent. Viruses like COVID-19, the flu, and RSV spread easily through the air and by touching contaminated surfaces. You can help protect your family, your community and yourself by layering these actions:

Stay up to date with recommended vaccines.
Stay home and away from others when you're sick.
Clean your hands regularly using soap and water or hand sanitizer.
Cover your coughs and sneezes.
Wear a well-fitting respirator or mask when appropriate. For example, in crowded places or when you're sick and must enter a public setting.
Improve indoor ventilation by opening a window or door.

Together, these steps protect our communities and ease pressure on our health care system.

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Travelling this winter? Make sure the only thing you’re catching are flights, not illnesses!

If you get sick before your trip, consider postponing your travel plans until you've recovered.

Before you leave, consult a health care provider for advice on vaccinations and medications.

During your trip, reduce your risk of getting or spreading a respiratory illness.

Limit contact with others if you become sick.
Wear a well-fitting mask if you’re sick or in a crowded or closed space.
Clean your hands regularly with soap and water or hand sanitizer.

If you feel sick when coming back to Canada, depending on your mode of transportation, tell:

a flight attendant
a border services officer
cruise staff

If you become sick once you’re back home, contact a health care provider and make sure to mention where you’ve travelled.

Plan for your health before and during travel - Canada.ca

Audience: Health Care Providers

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Health care providers play a vital role in Canada’s respiratory virus surveillance system.

The FluWatch+ program, led by the Public Health Agency of Canada, tracks the spread of #influenza, #COVID19, #RSV, and other respiratory infectious diseases year-round.

FluWatch+ integrates data from:

hospitals and public health labs
provincial/territorial governments
sentinel hospital networks
primary care practitioners
the public

Weekly reports from FluWatch+ help guide public health recommendations and policy decisions across Canada.

Download and display a poster in your office to encourage patients to join the program and contribute to national surveillance efforts: What is FluWatchers? - Canada.ca