Help fight the flu & stop the spread of germs.
People 65 years and older and their caregivers/household contacts
Residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities
Children and adults with chronic health conditions, including obesity, and their household contacts
Children and adolescents (six months to 18 years) with conditions treated for long periods of time with acetylsalicylic acid, and their household contacts
Healthy children age six months to five years of age
Household contacts and caregivers of infants age zero to 59 months
Aboriginal peoples (on and off reserve)
All pregnant women and their household contacts
Health care and other care providers in facilities and community settings who are capable of transmitting influenza to those at high risk of influenza complications
People who provide essential services including first responders and correction officers
People who work with live poultry
People planning to visit loved ones in a health care facility or who will take family members to outpatient appointments
As people age, they become more susceptible to flu-related complications because the immune system weakens as people age. As a result, seniors are less responsive to the standard flu vaccine.
Fluzone High-Dose contains 4 times the antigen of a standard flu vaccine so it can better protect seniors 65 years and older. In one study it was found to be 24% more effective than the regular flu vaccine.
The vaccine is available at some pharmacies, and at the VCH Travel Clinic for $75.
The FluMist vaccine, delivered through a spray into the nose, is not available for use in Canada for the 2019-2020 influenza season. Therefore, no live attenuated influenza vaccine given by nasal spray is available and all influenza vaccines will be given by injection.
All of the vaccines available this season are safe for
people with egg allergies.
BCCDC Information on Egg Allergic Individuals.