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Getting the influenza vaccine

I am not a resident of BC. How do I get an influenza (flu) vaccine?

You can book your influenza vaccine at a pharmacy for a fee. 

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I did not get an invitation to book an influenza (flu) vaccine appointment, I deleted the invite, I need to reschedule an appointment, I did not receive a booking confirmation, or I need help booking an appointment. What should I do?
You must be registered with the Get Vaccinated system to get an invitation. If you haven't yet received or can't find your invitation, check that your contact information is up to date.
 
If you need help booking an appointment or have other questions about your appointment, call 1-833-838-2323. 7 days a week, 7 am to 7 pm. Statutory holidays: 9 am to 5 pm.
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Where can I get an influenza vaccine?
Influenza vaccines are available at a wide variety of locations across the province, including many pharmacies, health authority clinics, and some primary-care providers’ offices.
 
The best way to get an influenza vaccine is to book an appointment. If you are already registered with the provincial Get Vaccinated system, you will automatically receive an invitation to book your influenza vaccine online when it's time to book your appointment. If you are not yet registered with the Get Vaccinated system, please register.
 
Although booking through the Get Vaccinated system is the most efficient way to access the vaccines, people can also phone the provincial call centre toll-free at 1 833 838-2323 to book their influenza vaccine. 
 
People living in First Nations communities can contact their community health centre or nursing station to find out how to book an influenza vaccine appointment.
 
Please note: Pharmacists can vaccinate children who are 4 years of age and older with the inactivated influenza vaccine given by injection and 2 years of age and older with the live-attenuated influenza vaccine given as a nasal spray. 
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Who should get the influenza vaccine?
It is recommended that everyone 6 months of age and older get an influenza vaccine, with rare exception.  Vaccination is especially important for people at high risk of serious illness from influenza, people who may be in close physical contact with those at high risk, and other groups. For more information, visit our influenza page. 
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When are influenza vaccines available in BC?
In BC, influenza (flu) vaccines are usually available in October. 
 
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Is there a mobile clinic that can come to our work location to vaccinate our employees?
A number of organizations, including private health care agencies, pharmacies, and travel clinics, have offered this service in the past. This information can be found online by searching for workplace influenza (flu) vaccine clinics in BC or by contacting your local pharmacy or travel clinic. ImmunizeBC does not endorse any one organization, and we recommend that you contact the specific organization for details.
 
Your local health unit or community health centre may have information on who provides this service in your area. 
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Can I get the influenza vaccine and my updated COVID-19 vaccine at the same time?
You can get your influenza vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine at the same time. This is safe. 
 
Use the booking link in your email or text to book an appointment to get both vaccines at the same time.
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I just recovered from COVID-19. Should I wait to get my influenza (flu) vaccine?
You can get the influenza (flu) vaccine any time after having COVID-19. If you are sick or have symptoms like cough or fever, stay home and wait until you feel better to get your vaccine.  
 
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I am already registered with the Get Vaccinated system for COVID-19 vaccines. Do I need to re-register to get an invite for the influenza (flu) vaccine?

No, people who are already registered with the provincial Get Vaccinated system will not need to re-register to get an invite for the influenza (flu) vaccine.

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Is the influenza vaccine free?
Yes. The vaccine is free in BC for everyone 6 months of age and older. The influenza vaccine is especially important for people who are at high risk of serious illness from influenza (such as young children, pregnant people, the elderly, and people with certain medical conditions), those able to transmit or spread influenza to those at high risk, and people who provide essential community services and those who work with live poultry.  
 
For more information, visit our influenza page. 
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Can I get the influenza vaccine at the same time as other vaccines?

Influenza vaccines can be safely given at the same time or any time before or after other vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine.

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Can I get the influenza vaccine the same day as a TB skin test?
The influenza vaccine can be given at the same time or at any time before or after a TB skin test (Mantoux test) is done. Influenza vaccines will not affect the result of the TB test. 
 
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Influenza vaccine & people 65+

What influenza vaccines are recommended for adults 65 years of age and older?
For the 2023-24 influenza season, there are two enhanced influenza vaccines that are recommended for adults 65 years of age and older: FLUZONE® HIGH-DOSE QUADRIVALENT vaccine and FLUAD® adjuvanted vaccine. 
 
  • The FLUZONE® HIGH-DOSE QUADRIVALENT vaccine is publicly funded (free) for adults 65 years of age and older who are residents of long-term care, assisted living or First Nations communities. This vaccine contains a higher dose of antigen to help create a stronger immune response.
  • The FLUAD® vaccine is publicly funded for all other adults 65 years of age and older. This vaccine is a trivalent influenza vaccine and contains an adjuvant that helps create a stronger immune response.
Adults 65 years and older are at increased risk for severe illness, hospitalization, and death from influenza compared with younger populations and studies suggest that, in this age group, these two enhanced vaccines are potentially more effective than the standard dose unadjuvanted influenza vaccines.  
 
Either of these enhanced influenza vaccines are recommended for this age group. There is not enough evidence to show that one of these vaccines is better than the other.
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What is the impact of the additional B strain in FLUZONE® HIGH-DOSE QUADRIVALENT that is not included in FLUAD®, for adults 65 years of age and older?
Influenza is a virus that mutates (changes) from year to year. For this reason, it’s necessary to produce a new vaccine every year. Each year, World Health Organization scientists decide what the most likely influenza strains will be and determine what influenza strains to include in the vaccine for that year. Influenza vaccines are made up of two A strains of influenza and one or two B strains. 
 
There are two lineages (think ancestors) of influenza B virus: Victoria and Yamagata. The quadrivalent vaccine (FLUZONE® HIGH-DOSE QUADRIVALENT) includes both lineages of influenza B virus (Victoria and Yamagata) and two A strains. The trivalent vaccine (FLUAD®) includes only one B strain (Victoria lineage) and two A strains. 
 
The Yamagata lineage is not included in the trivalent vaccine, but this is not expected to have much, if any, impact on vaccine protection compared to the quadrivalent vaccine during the 2023-24 season. There has been very little detection of the Yamagata lineage globally since the start of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic. Instead, most of the influenza B viruses circulating have been Victoria lineage. Both the trivalent and quadrivalent influenza vaccines contain the same Victoria lineage.
 
Studies have shown the trivalent vaccine still provides some cross-protection for the other B strain even when the influenza B lineage chosen for the trivalent vaccine differs from the circulating lineage.
 
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I'm not eligible for the free Fluzone high-dose influenza vaccine. Where can I purchase it?
The FLUZONE® HIGH-DOSE QUADRIVALENT vaccine may be available for purchase through pharmacies and travel clinics throughout BC. 
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Who can receive the Fluzone® HIGH-DOSE QUADRIVALENT vaccine for free?

Adults 65 years of age and older living in long-term care, assisted living facilities, and First Nations communities are eligible to receive the Fluzone® HIGH-DOSE QUADRIVALENT vaccine for free.

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What are the differences between FLUAD® and FLUZONE® HIGH-DOSE QUADRIVALENT influenza vaccines?
FLUAD® and FLUZONE® HIGH-DOSE QUADRIVALENT both enhance the immune response to influenza antigens in older adults (making them potentially more effective vaccines for this age group), but they do this in different ways. 
 
FLUZONE® HIGH-DOSE QUADRIVALENT contains a four-fold higher antigen content per dose than standard dose influenza vaccines to help create a stronger immune response. It is a quadrivalent vaccine, meaning that it protects against four strains of influenza virus. This vaccine is publicly funded (free) for adults 65 years of age and older living in long-term care, assisted living facilities, and First Nations communities. 
 
FLUAD® has the same antigen content per strain as standard formulation influenza vaccines, but contains an adjuvant, an ingredient that helps create a stronger immune response. It is a trivalent vaccine, meaning that it protects against three strains of influenza virus.This vaccine is publicly funded for all other adults 65 years of age and older.
 
Both FLUAD® and FLUZONE® HIGH-DOSE QUADRIVALENT are given by intramuscular (IM) injection (injected into the deltoid muscle in the upper arm). 
 
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Is one of the enhanced vaccines (FLUZONE® HIGH-DOSE QUADRIVALENT and FLUAD®) recommended over the other for adults 65 years of age and older?
No. There is not enough evidence to show that one of these enhanced vaccines is better than the other.  Either of the enhanced vaccines (FLUZONE® HIGH-DOSE QUADRIVALENT and FLUAD®) are recommended for adults 65 years of age and older.  
 
Randomized control trials and observational studies have shown that both enhanced influenza vaccines are better than standard-dose unadjuvanted influenza vaccines when it comes to preventing influenza-related hospitalization in adults 65 years of age and older.
 
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Influenza vaccine & children

Will the nasal spray influenza (flu) vaccine be available for kids this year?

Yes, the FLUMIST® QUADRIVALENT vaccine (given as a nasal spray) is available for children and youth 2-17 years of age.

This vaccine is a good option for children 2 years of age and older, especially those with needle fear and anxiety. In children, FLUMIST® provides similar protection against influenza as the inactivated influenza vaccines.

When booking an appointment through the Get Vaccinated system, you should have the option of selecting “nasal spray” and only clinics offering the nasal spray (Flumist) vaccine should appear.
 

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Where can I buy numbing cream for my child to help reduce pain with immunization?

You can buy numbing creams and patches at your local pharmacy. You do not need a prescription from your health care provider to buy them. Read about numbing creams and patches for immunization.

 
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Why do children under 9 receiving the influenza vaccine for the first time need two doses?

Children under 9 years of age who have never had a seasonal influenza vaccine need 2 doses for best protection.  The first dose of the influenza vaccine “primes” the immune system but may not result in high levels of protection.  A second dose is needed to raise their level of protection. 

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Influenza vaccine safety

Is it okay for household contacts of pregnant people to get the live-attenuated influenza (flu) vaccine (FluMist®)?
Yes. Household contacts of pregnant people should receive all routine vaccines, including live vaccines, such as the live-attenuated influenza vaccine (FluMist®). There is no need for pregnant people to avoid contact with people who recently got a live-attenuated influenza vaccine. However, pregnant people should not get the live-attenuated influenza vaccine; they should get the inactivated influenza vaccine instead.
 
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Are influenza (flu) vaccines safe for pregnant people?

Influenza (flu) vaccination is recommended for all pregnant people at any stage of pregnancy to protect themselves and their babies.

There is good evidence to show the inactivated influenza (flu) vaccine is safe for pregnant people and their babies.  Pregnant people, or those intending to become pregnant, should receive the inactivated influenza vaccine (given by injection), not the live attenuated influenza vaccine (given as a nasal spray).

Influenza can be very serious during pregnancy. Normal changes that happen in the body during pregnancy, like changes in the immune system, make pregnant people more likely to get really sick from influenza and to be hospitalized. Influenza can also be harmful to the baby. 

When people get the influenza vaccine during pregnancy, they can pass protective antibodies to their baby that can help protect the baby from influenza for several months after birth. This is important because babies can get really sick from influenza but can’t get the vaccine until they are six months old. 
 

Visit our pregnancy section to learn more about vaccines and pregnancy.
 

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What are the side effects of influenza vaccines?
Influenza vaccines are very safe.
 
Common side effects from the inactivated influenza vaccine include soreness, redness and swelling where the vaccine was given. Other symptoms, that may last 1 to 2 days, can include fever, headache, muscle soreness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and chills. Babies and young children may be irritable, sleepy and have a decreased appetite. Fewer than 1 in 20 people may have oculo-respiratory syndrome (ORS). Symptoms of ORS include red eyes, a cough and/or sore throat and/or hoarseness.
 
The live attenuated influenza vaccine contains weakened influenza viruses and may cause mild influenza symptoms but these are much milder than those due to influenza infection. Symptoms may include a runny or stuffy nose, cough, sore throat and fever. Other symptoms can include headache, decreased appetite, weakness, muscle soreness, chills, vomiting, stomach ache and irritability.
 
Many people experience no side effects from influenza vaccines.
 
Serious side effects after influenza vaccination, like a severe allergic reaction, are very rare. 
 
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Can influenza vaccines give me influenza?

The inactivated influenza vaccine cannot give you influenza. This vaccine contains killed influenza viruses that cannot cause infection. The live attenuated influenza vaccine given as a nasal spray contains weakened influenza viruses. Common reactions to the live vaccine include mild symptoms such as a runny nose, nasal congestion, cough, sore throat, and fever. These symptoms are less severe than those from influenza infection and last a shorter time. As a precaution, people with weakened immune systems should not get the live vaccine.

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Can I get an influenza vaccine if I am allergic to eggs?

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization says that people who are allergic to eggs, including those who have experienced anaphylaxis (life-threatening allergy) after eating eggs, can be safely vaccinated with a full dose of inactivated or live attenuated influenza vaccine. This recommendation is supported by more and more research that shows it is safe to vaccinate people who are allergic to eggs using inactivated or live attenuated influenza vaccines. 

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