New Data Shows Respiratory Illness Hospitalizations Surpass Pre-Pandemic Levels
New data released today by the Canadian Institute for Health Information paints a concerning picture of respiratory health trends across the country.
The CIHI findings reveal Canada’s rate of hospitalizations for vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases more than doubled in 2024-2025. The data relies on information compared with pre-pandemic levels, with COVID-19 driving a majority of these hospitalizations.
According to findings in Priority indicators to understand public health systems in Canada: Foundations for tomorrow, Canadian health centres recorded surges in vaccine-preventable respiratory illnesses, which led to 142 hospitalizations for every 100,000 residents.
Health experts say this information aligns with data released earlier this year, which reported pneumonia hospitalization rates surpassed pandemic levels across all age groups (up by 31% in 2024–2025 from the previous year).
CIHI’s Director of Health System Performance, Mélanie Josée Davidson says indicators like hospitalization rates for vaccine-preventable illnesses help policy makers get a clearer insight into healthcare demands. “By providing a common pan-Canadian view of public health system readiness, we’re strengthening our understanding of how investments in public health contribute to overall system readiness.” Davidson says evidence in this document helps track progress and identify gaps to support future healthcare needs.
The Canadian Institute for Health Information is a not-for-profit organization that works closely with federal, provincial and territorial governments and industry to compile research used for Canadian healthcare providers.
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