Anyone over the age of six months is eligible for free influenza vaccination. The influenza vaccine saves lives and prevents illness by protecting individuals and communities from the spread of disease. Flu shots are safe and easy to get.
All clinics offering COVID-19 appointments will accept walk-ins for families with children for their influenza vaccine.
Search your region for clinic dates within your community:
We encourage ages 12-and-older to book appointments unless they are coming as part of a family, but will accommodate walk-ins if possible.
You can book your influenza vaccine online through the provincial Get Vaccinated system. Booking through the Get Vaccinated system is the most efficient way to access an influenza vaccine.
Influenza spreads easily from person to person through breathing, coughing and sneezing. The virus can also spread when a person touches tiny droplets from a cough or sneeze and then touches their eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands. Symptoms of influenza may include fever, aches, extreme tiredness, headaches, muscle pain, a runny nose, sore throat and cough. The most effective way to prevent the spread of influenza is by getting the influenza vaccine, staying home when sick, and washing your hands regularly.
Protect yourself and your loved ones against influenza by getting your flu shot and preventing the spread of germs. It’s important that those who have loved ones that are most at risk of complications from influenza get vaccinated. This will help to build a wall of protection around your loved one and reduce their chances of acquiring influenza illness. Getting a flu shot provides immunity for your community too!
The people at the greatest risk of influenza-related complications, and therefore recommended to get the flu shot, are adults and children with pre-existing health conditions, residents of community care homes and other chronic care facilities, people 65 years of age and older, children under 60 months of age, pregnant people and Aboriginal peoples.
It’s important to get a flu shot every year because influenza viruses change year to year. Each year, the vaccine is updated to include the current viruses that are expected to be in our communities.
The flu shot offers protection against different strains of influenza viruses (A & B). The flu shot strains include two influenza A viruses and two influenza B viruses. The four strains included in the 2022/23 flu shot are:
Get up-to-date information on the influenza vaccine by visiting the provincial Influenza vaccine (flu vaccine) page.
The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is available any time of the year for those 65 and older and others who are at high risk for pneumococcal infection.
Visit ImmunizeBC to find out more about pneumococcal disease.
Support is available to ensure people who assistance can receive their influenza vaccines in a way that works best for them.
Thinking about getting a flu shot this year? We asked Dr. Carol Fenton, a medical health…
