Influenza (Flu)

Influenza vaccines are available in late fall - please call ahead to your local pharmacy to ensure vaccine availability. Use the map or table below to find your nearest participating pharmacy. Please note that pharmacies do not provide flu vaccines to children under the age of 2 years old.

What is the flu?

The flu, or seasonal influenza, is a common contagious infection. The flu affects the nose, throat, and lungs. It is spread through droplets that have been coughed or sneezed by someone who has the flu. You can get the flu by shaking hands with someone who has the flu or by touching surfaces that have come into contact with flu droplets, and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Flu symptoms include a sudden fever or feeling feverish as well as a cough and/or a sore throat. It is common to also have a runny or stuffy nose, headache or body aches, and chills. You may feel more tired than usual and have a lower appetite. Some people (mostly children) also have nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. Most people will recover within a week to 10 days, but some people are at greater risk of severe complications, such as pneumonia or death. Influenza infection can also worsen certain chronic conditions, such as heart disease. Although the burden of influenza can vary from year to year, it is estimated that there are an average of 12,200 hospitalizations related to influenza and approximately 3,500 deaths attributable to influenza annually in Canada.

Types of publicly funded vaccines

FluMist® Quadrivalent (AstraZeneca) is authorized for use but it is not publicly funded in this 2022-2023 flu season.

Children six months to under nine years of age who have never had a flu vaccine in their life require two doses of the flu vaccine, given at least four weeks apart. Children six months to less than nine years or anyone older who received one or more doses of seasonal flu vaccine in the previous year, should receive one dose of flu vaccine per season thereafter.

The standard-dose quadrivalent inactivated vaccine (QIV) continues to be a good option for individuals six months of age and over, including adults over the age of 65 years.

The QIV protects against four flu strains: two different flu A viruses and two different flu B viruses. TIV (Trivalent Inactivated Vaccine) protects against two different flu A viruses and one flu B virus. 

Fluzone® High-Dose Quadrivalent Inactivated Vaccine (QIV-HD) is also available for persons 65 years old and over. QIV-HD contains a higher amount of antigen per strain than standard-dose flu vaccine formulations. QIV-HD has a comparable safety and immunogenicity profile to the previously authorized TIV-HD. For individual-level decision making, NACI in Canada states that when available, high-dose should be used over standard-dose inactivated influenza vaccine, given the burden of influenza A(H3N2) disease and the good evidence of better protection compared to standard-dose in adults 65 years of age and older. However, NACI states that any of the available age-appropriate influenza vaccines should be used. There is no preferential recommendation for the use of QIV-HD versus TIV-adj vaccine for this age group. All QIV, QIV-HD, and TIV-adj vaccines protect people 65 years old and over against the flu and the most important thing is for older adults to be vaccinated.

Canadian Immunization Guide Chapter on Influenza and Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2022-2023

Vaccine precautions

It is important to screen yourself for symptoms before being vaccinated. Public health measures are in place at clinics to keep you and others safe. Please wear a mask, distance yourself from others and stay home if you are ill.

• The flu vaccine is safe for anyone 6 months of age or older who does not have a contraindication to the flu vaccine.
• The flu vaccine is safe and recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Persons with egg allergy can safely receive any influenza vaccine and do not need any special precautions or testing.

You should not get the flu vaccine if you are:

• Feeling ill? You can get the flu vaccine when you are feeling better.
• Someone who has had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to any of the components of that specific flu vaccine before (with the exception to egg). Consideration may be given to offering another flu vaccine that does not contain the implicated component.
• Someone who has had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous flu vaccine. A consultation with an allergist is recommended prior to flu vaccination
• Someone who has developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of a previous flu vaccination, unless another cause was found for the GBS. You may be referred to a physician in this case.

You may also be referred to a physician if you have a history of severe Oculo-Respiratory Syndrome involving difficulty breathing or wheezing following receipt of seasonal flu vaccine.

Administration of flu vaccine with other vaccines

All seasonal influenza vaccines, may be given at the same time as, or at any time before or after, administration of other routine vaccines, with the exception of the COVID19 vaccine for those 5 and under.

At this time, it is not recommended that children aged six months to five years of age routinely receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as the influenza vaccine. NACI currently recommends that children six months to five years of age wait at least 14 days between COVID-19 vaccines and non-COVID-19 vaccines, including the influenza vaccine. This is a precautionary measure to prevent erroneous attribution of adverse events following immunization to one particular vaccine or the other. Parents and caregivers of children aged six months to five years should consult a healthcare provider if they would like their child to receive their influenza vaccine within 14 days of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

Reports