Who are you fighting the flu for?
- Get the flu shot for your grandma.
- Get the flu shot for your kids.
- Get the flu shot for yourself.
Help fight the flu & stop the spread of germs. Get your flu shot today.
This year’s flu shot will protect you against three strains of influenza viruses specified by the World Health Organization: A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus, A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2)-like virus, and B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus. Children will also be protected against a fourth strain- B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus. Please note, the A/Michigan/45/2015 strain was not contained in the 2016/17 season vaccine.
- 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
There are several options for children: most vaccines are available as a shot and one is given as a nasal spray called FluMist. FluMist is available in a limited number of doses, and is available at some doctors’ offices and VCH Public Health clinics. Call ahead to your local clinic to check availability. The injectable flu vaccines offer excellent protection. Please do not delay immunizing children.
It is safe for anyone with egg allergies to have Flumist.
- Looking for general information about the flu? Visit our
Flu (Influenza) health topics page.
- For details about flu vaccines in English, Chinese, Farsi, French, Punjabi, Spanish and Vietnamese, visit
HealthLink BC.
- Hand washing is the best way to stop the spread of infections. See our Immunizations page for hand washing posters and other flu (influenza) resources.
Beginning December 1, 2017, all visitors must have had their flu shot or wear a mask. This will help protect your loved ones – the people you are visiting – from getting a potentially serious illness.
Flu shots for visitors are free and can be obtained at your family doctor, VCH flu clinics, walk-in clinics; or pharmacies. People planning to visit loved ones in a health care facility or who will take family members to outpatient appointments are also eligible for a free flu shot.
Masks are available at nursing stations, outpatient reception desks and/or the main entrances of our facilities.