Getting Your Flu Shot

Niagara Region Public Health is not holding community flu clinics.

Free flu shots available across Niagara

Contact your health care provider to get your flu shot. If you don't have one, find a doctor accepting patients or visit a walk-in clinic.

Flu shots are available at participating pharmacies for individuals two years of age or over. Check ahead for vaccine availability.

Fight the flu this season

The flu shot won't protect you from COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccine won't protect you from the flu.

The flu shot will protect you from the flu and help keep people out of the hospital.

Remember, the flu shot still prevents and reduces the severity of the flu, even if it's not a perfect match. It could mean the difference between:

  • Staying at home to recover or going to the hospital for treatment
  • Taking a couple of sick days or missing several days from work or school

Getting your flu shot doesn't mean that you won't get sick at all:

  • If you get infected with the flu before your body has had a chance to build immunity, you will get the flu
  • The flu shot doesn't protect you from COVID-19, the common cold or stomach illnesses

Influenza and COVID-19 vaccination

The best way to protect yourself against getting both infections this season is to make sure you've had your flu shot and are up-to-date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any recommended booster doses.

Influenza vaccines can be received at the same time as, or anytime before or after other vaccines (including COVID-19 vaccines).

Who should get the flu shot

Everyone six months of age and older should get a flu shot each year. Plan to get it as soon as you can, the earlier the better. Your body needs about two weeks to build immunity after getting the flu shot. Health care providers have protocols in place for safe immunizations.

Flu vaccines are prioritized for health care providers and those at high-risk of complications or hospitalization from the flu. The most vulnerable are:

  • Pregnant individuals
  • People who live in nursing homes or other chronic care facilities
  • Adults over 65 years of age
  • Children six months to four years of age
  • Indigenous peoples
  • Anyone six months of age and older with chronic health conditions:
    • Cardiac or pulmonary disorders
    • Diabetes mellitus or other metabolic disease
    • Cancer
    • Conditions or medication which compromise the immune system (due to underlying disease, therapy or both)
    • Renal disease
    • Anemia or hemoglobinopathy
    • Neurologic or neurodevelopment conditions
    • Morbid obesity (body mass index of > 40)
    • Children and adolescents (six months to 18 years) undergoing treatment with acetylsalicylic acid for long periods

Do not delay vaccination to wait for a particular product.

Getting your flu shot

  • Before your flu shot

    Pain from vaccinations is common. Plan ahead for pain management. Find tips for reducing stress, anxiety and pain during vaccination:

    Check with your health care provider or pharmacy about how to prepare for your appointment and discuss next steps if you're not feeling well on the day of your appointment.

  • After your flu shot

    Thank you for getting vaccinated. Getting your flu shot is the most effective way to protect yourself from the flu and flu-related complications.

    If you don't feel well after getting your flu shot, read about what to expect after vaccination.

Flu vaccine for those 65 years of age and older

Adults 65 years of age and older are at high risk of flu complications.

Individuals 65 years of age and older are eligible to receive the Standard Dose Quadrivalent Inactivated Vaccine (QIV-SD), the High-Dose Quadrivalent Inactivated Vaccine (QIV-HD) or the Adjuvanted Trivalent Inactivated Vaccine (TIV-adj). Doctors' offices and pharmacies will receive various flu vaccines. The most important thing is for you to be vaccinated. Don't wait for a particular product. They all protect against flu.

More information

If you have questions about the flu shot, read Immunize Canada's frequently asked questions.

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