Doctors warn vaccine-preventable illnesses straining hospitals

Dr. Fahad Razak discusses the surge of hospitalization for vaccine-preventable viruses and the spread of vaccine misinformation.

Hospitalizations for vaccine-preventable respiratory illnesses such as influenza, RSV and COVID-19 are putting increasing pressure on Canada’s health-care system, according to an internal medicine specialist at Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital.

Speaking on CTV Your Morning, Dr. Fahad Razak said hospital admissions for vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases more than doubled in 2024, compared with pre-pandemic levels.

“For every 100,000 Canadians, there were 142 hospitalizations for vaccine preventable respiratory diseases in 2024,” host Anne-Marie Mediwake said during the interview. “Before the pandemic, there were 66.”

‘More than double the rate’ of hospitalizations

Razak said one factor behind the increase is the addition of COVID-19 alongside seasonal flu and RSV.

“We’re looking at more than double the rate of people ending up in hospital every year,” he said.

“Part of that is the fact that we have a new virus, so we have instead of two annual viruses with RSV and flu, we now have COVID-19 as well.”

Razak added that all three illnesses are “essentially vaccine preventable for severe illness.”

“So if you get a vaccine, you still may get sick, but the point is it’s severe enough to end up in hospital,” he said. “Many of these people, unfortunately, who do end up in hospital are not vaccinated, and I think that’s where the big gap is.”

Vaccine hesitancy and misinformation driving decline

Razak said willingness among Canadians to get vaccinated has declined since the pandemic.

“The willingness to get vaccinated has certainly deteriorated,” he said.

“There is misinformation that’s widely circulated. I think there’s an increasing distrust of vaccines in general as this important preventative strategy.”

Razak said vaccine hesitancy is something physicians are increasingly seeing in clinical settings.

“There is an increasing hesitancy among some Canadians,” he said. “It’s not just Canadians, it’s a global phenomena around vaccinations.”

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He said governments, physicians and public health organizations need to work together to combat misinformation and improve vaccine access.

“One of the most tragic things I see is having an admission of a patient who I know could have benefited from being vaccinated,” Razak said.

Hospitals feeling pressure across the system

Razak said the rise in respiratory illnesses is affecting hospitals beyond infectious disease care alone.

“People will often narrowly think about the vaccine and the infection. Remember, hospitals are there for all of your care,” he said. “When you have this enormous number of patients that come in every fall and winter for influenza and RSV and unfortunately for COVID-19 ... it means it puts pressure on the system.”

Razak said Canada’s relatively low hospital capacity makes surges especially difficult to manage.

“When you have this influx of patients, it means everything slows down,” he said. “Access to get a CT scan or an X-ray. Access to the medication supply, the number of nurses who are providing care for patients, so everything gets affected.”