Why you should get vaccinated

The protection offered by some vaccines only lasts for a certain amount of time, so it is important to receive booster doses in adulthood to keep yourself and those around you safe and healthy.

Vaccines for adults

As an adult you should receive the following free vaccines:

If you’re travelling

You may need vaccines when you travel outside Canada. Consult your health care provider, local public health unit, or travel clinic two to three months before you travel. This will allow enough time to:

  • make sure the vaccines you need are available
  • receive all necessary doses of vaccine before you travel

The vaccines you need are based on:

  • where you are going
  • the type of travel and length of time
  • what vaccines you’ve already received

The Public Health Agency of Canada provides travel health notices and a list of travel clinics across Canada. You can also contact your local pharmacy to see which vaccines are available.

Flu shots

The best defense against the flu is to get vaccinated. Unless there is a medical reason not to, everyone aged six months or older can benefit from getting the seasonal flu shot.

COVID-19 vaccinations

Getting vaccinated and staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines is the best way to protect yourself, your loved ones and our communities from severe outcomes from COVID-19 and its variants.

Find out more about COVID-19 vaccinations.

Get immunized before having a baby

Be sure you and everyone in your household are up to date on your immunizations if you are thinking about having a baby. This can protect your developing baby from serious infections. Recommended vaccines also help protect babies after birth and early infancy, when they are most vulnerable.

Pregnant individuals are eligible to get a free pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine in every pregnancy to help protect the baby after birth. The pertussis vaccine is given as part of the tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap) vaccine.

Personal risk factors

If you have special medical conditions or other high risk factors, you may need additional vaccines. Talk to your health care provider or your local Public Health unit about other recommended vaccines.

For health care providers

Diphtheria Guide for Health Care Professionals.