Recommended vaccines for adults

Vaccines you may need

• Age
• Life events, job, and travel
• Health conditions
• Other factors
• Extra protection

Age

Find out what vaccines you need based on your age. 

19 to 49 years

 

Every year:

 

• Influenza vaccine – free.

Every 10 years:

 

• Tetanus, Diphtheria (Td) vaccine – free.

At least once in adulthood:

 

• Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine – free for pregnant people and adults who have not been fully immunized or whose immunization history is unknown.

You should also make sure you are up to date on these vaccines: 

 

• Chickenpox vaccine  – free for adults who have not had the vaccine or disease.
• Hepatitis B vaccine – free for adults born in 1980 and later who have not had the vaccine.
• HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine – see our HPV page for recommendations and eligibility criteria for the free vaccine.
• Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine – free for adults born in 1970 or later who have not had the vaccine. 
• Meningococcal C vaccine – free for adults 24 years of age and younger born before 2002 who did not get a dose of the vaccine on or after their 10th birthday. 
• Meningococcal quadrivalent vaccine  –  free for adults 24 years of age and younger and born in 2002 or later who have not had the vaccine.

Talk to a health care provider to find out if you have all the vaccines you need. 
 

 

For COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, see our COVID-19 vaccine page. 

 

50 to 64 years

 

Every year:

 

• Influenza vaccine – free.

Every 10 years:

 

• Tetanus, Diphtheria (Td) vaccine – free.

At least once in adulthood:

 

• Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine – free for adults who have not been fully immunized or whose immunization history is unknown.

Once you turn 50:

 

• Shingles vaccine – you need to buy this vaccine; some health plans cover the cost of this vaccine. 

You should also make sure you are up to date on these vaccines:

 

• Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine – free for adults born in 1970 or later.
• Chickenpox  – free for adults who have not had the vaccine or disease. Most Canadian adults will have had chickenpox disease. 

Talk to a health care provider to find out if you have all the vaccines you need. 
 

 

For COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, see our COVID-19 vaccine page. 

 

65 years and older

 

Every year:

 

• Influenza vaccine – free.

Every 10 years:

 

• Tetanus, Diphtheria (Td) vaccine – free.

At least once in adulthood:

 

• Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine – free for adults who have not been fully immunized or whose immunization history is unknown.

Once you turn 50:

 

• Shingles vaccine – you need to buy this vaccine; some health plans cover the cost of this vaccine.

At 65 years or older: 

 

• Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine – free.

You should also make sure you are up to date on these vaccines: 

 

• Chickenpox vaccine  – free for adults who have not had the vaccine or disease. Most Canadian adults will have had the disease. 

For COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, see our COVID-19 vaccine page. 

 

Talk to a health care provider to find out if you have all the vaccines you need. 

 

Life events, job, and travel

Find out what vaccines you need based on life events, your job, or travel plans.

Pregnancy

 

The following vaccines are recommended for pregnant people:

 

• Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap) vaccine – in every pregnancy. 
• Influenza (flu) vaccine – if pregnant during influenza season.
• COVID-19 vaccine –  if not up to date.

These vaccines are free for pregnant people. Check with your health care provider to ensure you have received all recommended vaccines.

 

Learn more about vaccines and pregnancy.

 

Job

 

Specific vaccines may be recommended for you based on your job, especially if you work (or are training to work) in health care, the military, a laboratory, in childcare, with animals, or if you handle food. 

 

Health care workers

 

Health care workers are at risk of exposure to communicable diseases while at work because of their contact with patients or infectious material from patients. 

 

Health care workers should make sure they are up to date on all routine vaccines. They should also get the following vaccines if they are not already up to date:

 

• Polio vaccine – free
• Hepatitis B vaccine – free for people born in 1980 or later and provided free by employers for health care workers born before 1980 who have contact with blood and body fluids in their job 
• Influenza (flu) vaccine – free
• COVID-19 vaccine – free
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine -  free for health care workers born in 1957 or later

Check with a health care provider to ensure you have received all the recommended vaccines. 

 

*A health care worker includes people who provide health care to patients or work in institutions that provide patient care. 

 

Other workers

 

Employees in various workplaces may be exposed to vaccine-preventable diseases. It’s important that all workers are up to date on their routine vaccines, including their yearly influenza vaccine. 

 

If your job puts you at risk of getting or spreading diseases, you might need extra vaccines. This is especially important for people who work in the military, in the laboratory, with animals, or who handle food.

 

Talk to a health care provider and/or your employer to see what vaccines are recommended for you and if they are free. Vaccines that aren’t free may be covered by your employer. 

 

International travellers

 

Before you travel to other countries, plan ahead to get all the vaccines you need. Consult your health care provider or travel clinic 6 to 8 weeks before you travel. This is important because some vaccines may take several weeks to become fully effective, and others may require more than 1 dose. You will need to buy most vaccines for travel. 

 

The vaccines you need are based on:

 

• Where you are going.
• The type of travel and length of your trip. 
• What vaccines you’ve already received.

Here are some examples of vaccines that may be recommended or, in some cases, required for travel to certain countries:

• Hepatitis A vaccine.
• Polio vaccine.
• Meningococcal quadrivalent vaccine.
• Meningococcal B vaccine.
• Japanese encephalitis vaccine.
• Typhoid vaccine.
• Cholera and travellers’ diarrhea vaccine.
• Yellow fever vaccine.

For more information on travel vaccines see: Before you travel.

 

Adults new to Canada

 

If you've just moved to Canada, it's important to make sure you have received all the vaccines recommended for adults in BC. These vaccines might be different from those recommended in your home country. 

 

Take your immunization record to your local health unit, community health centre, primary care clinic, or pharmacy to be checked to see if you are up to date on routine vaccines. If you don’t have a vaccine record, you can still speak to a health care provider about what vaccines are recommended. If you are missing any recommended vaccines, you can receive these from a pharmacy or your local health unit, community health centre, or primary care clinic. Some doctors and nurse practitioners also give vaccines.  

 

Residents of Extended or Intermediate Care Facilities

 

People living in Extended or Intermediate Care Facilities should make sure all of their routine immunizations are up to date. In addition, it is recommended that people who live in these facilities receive the following vaccines:

 

• Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine – free.
• Influenza (flu) vaccine – free.
• COVID-19 vaccine – free.

Check with a health care provider to ensure you have received all recommended vaccines.

 

Health conditions

Find out what vaccines you may need based on your health conditions.

Immunocompromising conditions

 

Vaccines are especially important for people with conditions that weaken the immune system or who take medications that suppress their immune system. Having a weakened immune system means it is more difficult to fight off infections or diseases in the body. In addition to vaccines recommended for all adults, other vaccines may be recommended and free for you depending on your condition, including:

 

• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine.
• Hepatitis A vaccine.
• Hepatitis B vaccine.
• HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine. 
• Meningococcal B vaccine.
• Meningococcal quadrivalent vaccine.
• Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV 13) vaccine.
• Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.
• Influenza vaccine
• COVID-19 vaccine

Check with a health care provider to ensure you have received all recommended vaccines.

 

Other health conditions

 

People with conditions such as diabetes, heart, or lung disease are at higher risk for serious problems or complications from certain vaccine-preventable diseases. In addition to vaccines recommended for all adults, these other vaccines may be recommended and free for you depending on your health condition:

 

• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine
• Hepatitis A vaccine
• Hepatitis B vaccine
• Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV 13) vaccine.
• Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.
• Influenza vaccine
• COVID-19 vaccine

Check with a health care provider to ensure you have received all recommended vaccines.

 

Other factors

Find out what vaccines you may need based on other factors.

Men who have sex with men

 

In addition to routine vaccines, the following vaccines are also recommended for men who have sex with men: 

 

• Hepatitis A vaccine  - free.
• Hepatitis B vaccine - free.
• HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine  - free for men 9-26 years of age who have sex with men.
• Mpox vaccine - see eligibility criteria on the BCCDC Mpox page.

Check with a health care provider to ensure you have received all recommended vaccines.

People who have multiple sexual partners

 

In addition to routine vaccines, the following vaccines are recommended for people with multiple sex partners:

 

• Hepatitis A vaccine  - you will need to buy this vaccine.
• Hepatitis B vaccine  - free.

Check with a health care provider to ensure you have received all recommended vaccines.

People who use illicit drugs

In addition to routine vaccines, the following vaccines are recommended for people who use illicit drugs:
 

• Hepatitis A vaccine - free.
• Hepatitis B vaccine - free.
• Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine - free.

Check with a health care provider to ensure you have received all recommended vaccines.

People experiencing homelessness

 

In addition to routine vaccines, the following vaccine is recommended for people experiencing homelessness:

 

• Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine - free. 

Check with a health care provider to ensure you have received all recommended vaccines.

 

Vaccines available for purchase

Find out about vaccines for extra protection. 

Vaccines for extra protection

 

Talk to a health care provider about additional vaccines you can buy for extra protection, including: 

 

• Hepatitis A vaccine.
• Hepatitis B vaccine.
• HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine.
• Meningococcal quadrivalent vaccine.
• Meningococcal B vaccine.
• Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.
• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine.

You can buy these vaccines at pharmacies and travel clinics. Depending on your age or other factors, some might be free. Some health insurance plans may cover the cost of these vaccines; check with your insurance provider. 

 

Ask a health care provider if extra protection is important for you and your family.

 

 

Frequently asked questions

Where can adults get vaccinated?

 

Adults can get free vaccines (paid for by the BC government) from:
 

• Pharmacies.
• Public health units, community health centres, and primary care clinics.
• Family doctors.
• Nurse practitioners.
• In First Nations communities: community health centres and nursing stations. 

Services vary across BC. Call to ask about vaccine availability. 

Vaccines that are not free can be purchased at:

• Pharmacies.
• Travel health clinics.

 

How much do vaccines cost?

 

Many vaccines are provided free to the public by the BC Government. The cost of vaccines you need to buy ranges from about $60 to $200 per dose (multiple doses may be required in a vaccine series).  There may be extra fees for consultation, dispensing, and injecting. Vaccine costs vary throughout the province for the various types of vaccines, depending on where you get them. Some health insurance plans cover the costs of vaccines; check with your insurance provider.

 

Will my health plan cover the cost of the vaccines I have to buy?

 

An insurance company will have various plans, and your coverage will depend on the policy provided by an employer or other provider or that you may have paid for yourself. Here is some information to get you started: 

 

• Neither MSP nor Pharmacare covers vaccines that the BC government doesn’t fund.
• Vaccines may be covered by an extended benefits plan from a private insurance agency. You should obtain the DIN (Drug Identification Number) from a pharmacy, then contact your private insurance agency to find out about this aspect of medical coverage.
• Government or private sector employees may have vaccine coverage in their benefits package. If this is your situation, check with your Human Resources Department (or equivalent in smaller organizations).
• If you are attending a post-secondary institution, some institutions provide some vaccines as part of the student health plan. Check with Student Health Services on campus. If more than one dose is required, Student Health Services can schedule the vaccines to be given over different years of the plan to maximize the plan’s value.

Why aren’t all vaccines free for the public? 

 

In BC, the Ministry of Health makes decisions to fund vaccine programs based on recommendations from the Communicable Disease Policy Advisory Committee. This expert scientific committee looks at the following: 

 

• Statements issued by Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization.
• The published literature (studies about certain vaccines and diseases).
• The product monograph (information about the vaccine from the manufacturer).
• Local epidemiology (how often the disease occurs in different groups of people in the province).
• Available health economic analyses (an analysis of the costs and benefits of the vaccine).

Recommendations for new vaccine programs are then prioritized with other public health initiatives. As a result, not all vaccines approved for use in Canada are funded by the provincial government. People may choose to buy vaccines for extra protection.