Influenza (Flu)

⚠ Protect yourself: Get your flu vaccine!

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is recommending that residents aged 6 months and older get their annual flu vaccine as soon as possible this flu season. 

  • Many local pharmacies have received the updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines from the Ministry of Health. Pharmacies are the primary way that Ontarians access these vaccines.
  • Visit the Ministry of Health’s website or OttawaPublicHealth.ca/FindPharmacy to locate a pharmacy near you including hours of operation, address, contact information and details on how to book an appointment.
Stay protected: Flu, COVID and RSV
Assess your risk and stay informed. COVID-19, influenza, and RSV will continue to circulate in our community. It’s important to stay informed about respiratory virus activity and assess your risk. Some people are at greater risk of severe outcomes from these viruses. All seasonal influenza vaccines can be given at the same time as, or at any time before or after, other routine vaccines, including COVID-19 and RSV vaccines.
Get your flu vaccine

Who is eligible for the flu vaccine?

  • All individuals 6 months of age and older who live, work, or go to school in Ontario are eligible for the flu vaccine through local pharmacies and healthcare providers.  
  • Updated COVID-19 vaccines will also be available for everyone six months of age or older.

There are many options for getting your updated annual flu vaccine: 

Pharmacies

  • Many local pharmacies have received the updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines from the Ministry of Health. Pharmacies are the primary way that Ontarians access these vaccines.
  • Visit the Ministry of Health’s website or OttawaPublicHealth.ca/FindPharmacy to locate a pharmacy near you including hours of operation, address, contact information and details on how to book an appointment.

Participating community health care providers

  • Check with your regular health care provider to see if they offer the vaccines. 

Ottawa Public Health Community Vaccination Clinics

Ottawa Public Health community vaccination clinics offer publicly-funded vaccinations for residents. The clinics are currently offering the following vaccines to eligible residents. 

  • COVID-19 vaccine: OPH offers COVID-19 vaccines at our clinics for children aged 6 months to under 5 years and their household members and individuals facing significant barriers to access such as newcomers without OHIP.

Confirm Eligibility and Book COVID-19 Vaccine 

  • Flu vaccine: OPH offers flu vaccines at our clinics for children aged 6 months to under 5 years and their household members and individuals facing significant barriers to access such as newcomers without OHIP.

Confirm Eligibility and Book Flu Vaccine 

Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs

Ottawa Public Health offers annual flu vaccination for individuals facing barriers to access, including newcomers without OHIP and children under 2 (along with their household members).

Visit our Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs page for information on hub locations, hours and vaccine availability.

Types of publicly funded vaccines

Age group

Quadrivalent Inactivated Vaccine (QIV)


FluLaval Tetra

Quadrivalent Inactivated Vaccine (QIV)


Flucelvax® Quad

Quadrivalent Inactivated Vaccine (QIV)

Fluzone® Quadrivalent

High-Dose Quadrivalent Inactivated Vaccine

(QIV-HD) 

Fluzone® High-Dose Quadrivalent

Adjuvanted Trivalent Inactivated Vaccine

(TIV-adj)

TIV-adj
Fluad®

Six months to

64 years of age year

 yes

yes

 yes

 no

 no

65 years or older

 yes

yes

 yes

 yes

 yes
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. QIV vaccines 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. Older Adults: The QIV-HD (Fluzone® High-Dose Quadrivalent) and TIV-adj (Fluad®) are the recommended influenza vaccines for adults 65 years of age and older. There is no preferential recommendation for the use of QIV-HD versus TIV-adj vaccine for this age group. If these products are not available, do not delay vaccination. All the available flu vaccines protect people 65 years old and over. The most important thing is for older adults to be vaccinated.
Why get vaccinated early?
The earlier you get the vaccine, the better your chances of preventing the flu. The flu is a serious viral infection that can lead to severe complications. Protect yourself, your family, and high-risk groups in your community by getting vaccinated.
Who is eligible for the flu vaccine?

Who is eligible for the flu vaccine?

  • All individuals 6 months of age and older who live, work, or go to school in Ontario are eligible for the flu vaccine through local pharmacies and healthcare providers.  
  • Updated COVID-19 vaccines will also be available for everyone six months of age or older.

Types of publicly funded vaccines

Age group recommendations:

  • 6 months to 64 years: Quadrivalent Inactivated Vaccine (QIV) options.
  • 65 years or older: QIV-HD (Fluzone® High-Dose Quadrivalent) and TIV-adj (Fluad®) are recommended. If these are not available, any available flu vaccine is beneficial.

Vaccine precautions

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 same ingredient.
  • 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.
What is the flu, what are the symptoms and how to prevent it?

What is the flu?

The flu, or seasonal influenza, is a common sickness that spreads easily. It affects your nose, throat, and lungs. You can catch the flu from tiny droplets when someone with the flu coughs or sneezes. You can also get it by shaking hands with someone who has the flu or by touching surfaces with flu droplets and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Symptoms of the flu

  • Sudden fever or feeling very hot
  • Cough and/or sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Headache or body aches
  • Chills
  • Feeling more tired than usual
  • Lower appetite
  • Some people, especially kids, might also feel sick to their stomach, vomit, or have diarrhea

Preventing the flu

Get vaccinated: The flu vaccine helps your body fight off infection. It can prevent the flu or reduce the severity of symptoms. Each year, the vaccine is updated to protect against the most likely flu strains.

Protect yourself and others

  • Wash your hands often and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
  • Disinfect high-touch surfaces in your home and workplace.
  • Wear a mask:
    • To protect yourself from viral respiratory illnesses.
    • To protect others at higher risk of severe respiratory illness.
    • When you’re recovering from illness.

How serious is the flu?

Complications from the flu can include serious conditions, like pneumonia or heart attacks and, in some cases, death. The flu is estimated to cause about 12,200 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths in Canada each year.

Why get vaccinated early?

The earlier you get the vaccine, the better your chances of preventing the flu. 

Contact Us