Respiratory virus season is arriving, and Canada's fall 2026 vaccination campaigns are underway, with a twist. Ontario is running a two-stage rollout (high-risk groups since late September, everyone else from October 26), British Columbia is booking through its Get Vaccinated system, and Quebec has made the biggest policy change of the season: no more free flu shots for the general population. Here is when each province opens, who gets shots free, and what changed this year.
Key takeaways
- Ontario: high-risk groups have had access since September 28; free flu and COVID-19 shots open to everyone aged 6 months and older on October 26 at participating pharmacies, public health units, and doctors' offices.
- British Columbia's campaign runs through the Get Vaccinated system, register now so the invitation reaches you; the province has not published specific public dates.
- Alberta's publicly funded flu program opens to the general public October 19; Manitoba's regional clinics can begin the week of October 13.
- Quebec ended free flu shots for the general population this fall, free doses are now reserved for people 65+, those with chronic or immune conditions, pregnant people, health-care workers and caregivers; everyone else pays at a pharmacy.
- Most provinces let you get flu and COVID-19 doses in the same appointment.
Ontario: October 26 for everyone, September 28 for high-risk
Ontario's rollout is the most detailed in the country. The province launched its fall flu, COVID-19 and RSV immunization programs with a two-stage schedule:
Stage 1, high-risk groups, starting September 28. The first supply went to hospitalized patients and hospital staff, residents and staff of long-term care and retirement homes and other congregate settings, and adults aged 65 and older. COVID-19 vaccination for these groups began the week of September 22, with flu doses following in late September.
Stage 2, the general public, starting October 26. Free flu and COVID-19 immunizations become available to everyone aged 6 months and older who lives, works, or attends school in Ontario, through participating pharmacies, public health units, and participating physician and nurse practitioner offices. Ontario's Universal Influenza Immunization Program continues to cover a free flu shot for the whole population, and COVID-19 vaccines remain free of charge.
One note on dates: a single aggregator lists October 27 for the public opening, but the Ontario health ministry's own launch announcement, as reported by multiple outlets, states October 26. Pharmacies will not have general-public supply before the official date, so do not book earlier and expect a dose.
RSV is expanding too. Ontario widened its adult RSV prevention program this fall: residents aged 60 to 74 who meet specified high-risk criteria or live in certain higher-risk settings are eligible, along with all Ontarians aged 75 and older. Eligible residents can receive the Abrysvo or Arexvy RSV vaccines at any point during the year, not just in the fall window.
British Columbia: register and wait for your invitation
B.C. has not published specific dates for when flu or COVID-19 vaccines will be available, saying only that the campaign happens in fall 2026. The province's system works differently from Ontario's: residents are encouraged to register with the Get Vaccinated system now, and the province sends invitations to book when a vaccine is recommended for them. If you are registered, the invitation is your signal, watch for it rather than calling clinics cold. Further details on eligibility and immunization locations were expected later in the fall.
Alberta: October 19 for the general public
Alberta's publicly funded influenza program opens to the general public on October 19, 2026. The province runs a universal flu program, free flu shots for everyone, with priority groups served ahead of the public opening. (Some secondary reporting describes a paid model for COVID-19 boosters outside high-risk groups; the province's official communications are the authority on current COVID-19 dose pricing, so confirm before booking.)
Manitoba: clinics from the week of October 13
Manitoba's campaign launches in early to mid-October 2026, with regional public health clinics able to begin offering doses the week of October 13. For the 2026–27 season, the province is offering Fluad, an adjuvanted vaccine formulated for older adults, to all Manitobans aged 65 and over. Check your regional health authority for clinic schedules as dates firm up.
New Brunswick: October 13 target
New Brunswick's Department of Health confirmed on October 2, 2026 that updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines are free for everyone aged six months and older beginning October 13, 2026. If you are in New Brunswick, book through the provincial health department's site or a participating pharmacy.
Quebec: the big change this fall
Quebec is the outlier of 2026, and the change is significant. The province will not offer a free influenza vaccine to its whole population this fall, reversing a policy in place since 2022, when universal free flu vaccination was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic years to maximise uptake.
Free doses are now reserved for people at higher risk of complications:
- People aged 65 and older
- Residents of long-term care homes (CHSLDs), private seniors' residences, and other collective living settings
- People who are immunocompromised or living with specified chronic illnesses
- Pregnant people
- Health-care workers and caregivers
- Household members and caregivers of infants under six months, who are too young to be vaccinated themselves
Why did Quebec do this? The decision follows advice from the Comité sur l'immunisation du Québec, the province's independent immunisation advisory committee, which recommended harmonising flu and COVID-19 eligibility so the two campaigns run on one schedule with one population, simplifying delivery and reducing the volume of publicly purchased vaccine. It is the second narrowing in two years: Quebec had already ended free COVID-19 vaccination for the general population, restricting public doses to vulnerable groups.
The change is about coverage, not recommendation. Quebec still advises flu vaccination; anyone outside the covered groups can still get the shot at a pharmacy, but at their own expense, and the province has not published a single provincewide price, so ask when booking. Appointments are made through Clic Santé or by phone at 1-877-644-4545.
Can you get flu and COVID shots at the same appointment?
In most provinces, yes. Co-administration, getting your flu and COVID-19 doses in one visit, is widely supported, and pharmacists and clinics routinely offer it where supply allows. Ontario's program is explicitly built around it: the high-risk stage and the October 26 public opening both cover flu and COVID-19 together.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) continues to strongly recommend COVID-19 immunization programs for people at increased risk of the virus or severe disease, adults 65 and older, health-care workers, and long-term care residents, while recommending that programs also be offered to anyone six months and older based on personal risk assessment or preference. NACI advises waiting roughly six months after a COVID-19 vaccine dose (or infection) before getting another dose. For influenza, NACI prioritises groups at high risk of complications or hospitalization, including children six months to five years, adults 65 and older, care providers, and household contacts of anyone at high risk.
What to bring and how to book
- Ontario: Starting October 26, walk into or book at participating pharmacies, public health units, or your doctor's office. Bring your health card. Priority groups could already book from September 28.
- B.C.: Register with the Get Vaccinated system and wait for your invitation to book.
- Alberta: Public flu program opens October 19; pharmacies and public health clinics are the main channels.
- Manitoba: Regional public health clinics from the week of October 13; check your regional health authority.
- Quebec: Confirm you qualify for a free dose before booking through Clic Santé; if you do not qualify, ask your pharmacy about private pricing.
As the days get shorter and indoor season begins, it is also worth thinking about the winter health basics that go with vaccination, our guides to vitamin D in a Canadian winter and sleep and mood tips for early darkness cover the rest of the seasonal playbook.
Practical next steps
- In Ontario: if you're not in a priority group, book for October 26 or later, pharmacies won't have public supply before then.
- In B.C.: register with Get Vaccinated now if you haven't already, so the invitation reaches you.
- In Quebec: check the eligibility list on quebec.ca before booking through Clic Santé, and ask your pharmacy about cost if you're outside the covered groups.
- Ask for flu and COVID-19 doses in the same appointment to save a trip.
- Bring your health card (and immunization record where your province asks for it).
The bottom line
Fall 2026 vaccination in Canada is a patchwork: Ontario's full public opening lands October 26, Alberta follows October 19, B.C. runs on invitations, and Quebec has redrawn the map by ending free flu shots for most adults. The through-line is unchanged, high-risk groups first, everyone else close behind, flu and COVID together in one visit. Check your province's date, book once it opens, and do not pay for a dose that your province covers free.
This article is general health information for a Canadian audience, current as of October 2026, not medical advice for your situation. Vaccine eligibility, availability, and clinical guidance vary by province and individual health status, consult your pharmacist, doctor, or local public health unit, or a qualified health professional, before making decisions about vaccination.
Sources
- WireService.ca, Ontario Launches Fall Flu, COVID-19 and RSV Immunization Programs
- Renfrew County and District Health Unit, Fall Vaccine Clinics: Flu, COVID-19, RSV
- The Canadian Wire, Flu and COVID Shots Fall 2026: When Each Province Opens Booking
- The Canadian Wire, Quebec Ends Free Flu Shots for Everyone in Fall 2026: Who Still Qualifies
- The Canadian Wire, Flu Shots Fall 2026: When Each Province Opens and What Changed in Quebec
- Canadian Trends, Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations are underway. Here's each province's approach
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
01
When can the public get flu shots in Ontario?
October 26 is the public opening: free flu and COVID-19 shots become available to everyone aged 6 months and older who lives, works or attends school in Ontario, through participating pharmacies, public health units, and participating physician and nurse practitioner offices. High-risk groups got access earlier, from September 28 for flu (COVID from the week of September 22), covering hospitalized patients and hospital staff, long-term care and retirement home residents and staff, other congregate settings, and adults 65 and older. Do not book before October 26 and expect a dose: pharmacies will not have general-public supply before the official date. (One aggregator lists October 27, but the Ontario health ministry's own launch announcement states October 26.)
02
Are they free in 2026?
It depends on the province. Ontario: free flu shots for the whole population under its Universal Influenza Immunization Program, plus free COVID-19 vaccines. Alberta: a universal flu program, free flu shots for everyone, with the general public opening October 19. Quebec: free flu shots are gone for the general population, free doses are now reserved for people 65+, those with chronic or immune conditions, pregnant people, health-care workers and caregivers, and a few other groups. Everyone else in Quebec pays at a pharmacy (the province has not published a single provincewide price, so ask when booking).
03
Can I get flu and COVID shots in the same appointment?
In most provinces, yes. Co-administration, getting your flu and COVID-19 doses in one visit, is widely supported, and pharmacists and clinics routinely offer it where supply allows. Ontario's program is explicitly built around it: the high-risk stage and the October 26 public opening both cover flu and COVID-19 together. NACI advises waiting roughly six months after a COVID-19 vaccine dose (or infection) before getting another dose.
04
Why did Quebec stop free shots?
Quebec is reversing the universal free flu vaccination policy in place since 2022, when it was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic years to maximise uptake. The decision follows advice from the Comité sur l'immunisation du Québec, the province's independent immunisation advisory committee, which recommended harmonising flu and COVID-19 eligibility so the two campaigns run on one schedule with one population, simplifying delivery and reducing the volume of publicly purchased vaccine. It is the second narrowing in two years: Quebec had already ended free COVID-19 vaccination for the general population. The change is about coverage, not recommendation, Quebec still advises flu vaccination; anyone outside the covered groups can still get the shot at a pharmacy, at their own expense, booking through Clic Santé or by phone at 1-877-644-4545.
