Where to get the flu vaccine in your community?
To find a flu clinic near you, visit IslandFluClinics.ca or ImmsBC: Find a Flu Clinic Locator
| Age |
VaccineType |
Vaccine Provider and how to book an appointment |
| 6 months - 2 years |
|
|
| 2 - 5 years |
- Intranasal spray
- Injectable vaccine
|
- Pharmacist* only provides injections to those aged 5 years and older - contact your local pharmacist
- Primary Care Provider - contact your Primary care Provider
- Public Health - contact your local Public Health Unit
|
| 5 - 17 years |
- Intranasal spray
- Injectable vaccine
|
|
| Adults & Seniors |
|
|
What to bring to your appointment:
- You will be required to follow provincial requirements for wearing a face mask during your appointment
- BC Services Card (or other Government ID such as a driver’s licence)
- Please wear a short sleeved shirt
Who is eligible for a free flu vaccine?
People at high risk:
- People aged 65 years and over
- Healthy children 6 – 59 months (less than 5 years old)
- Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy
- Indigenous peoples
- Residents of long-term care facilities
- Adults (including pregnant women) and children with certain chronic health conditions
- Children and adolescents (6 months to 18 years of age) with conditions treated for long periods with acetylsalicylic acid
- Adults and children who are morbidly obese (BMI of 40 or greater)
- Inmates of provincial correctional institutions
- People working with live poultry
People capable of transmitting influenza to those at high risk:
- All health care workers
- Visitors to health care facilities and other patient care locations
- Household contacts (including children) of people at high risk
- Household contacts and child care providers of healthy children 0-59 months (less than 5 years old)
- Those who provide care or service in potential outbreak settings housing high risk persons (e.g. crew on ships)
People who provide essential community services:
- First responders: police, fire fighters, ambulance
- Corrections workers
Questions about the flu vaccine?
Call one of our telephone hotlines:
- Comox Valley: 250-331-8599
- Campbell River: 250-850-2120
- Mt. Waddington: 250-902-6079
- Parksville: 250-947-8242 then press 1, then press 8
- South Island: 250-544-7676 five-digit local 27545
- For all other communities, contact your local Public Health Unit
What is in this year's flu vaccine?
The seasonal flu vaccine changes each year, this year the vaccine includes the following strains:
- A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus (new strain this year)
- A/Cambodia/e0826360/2020 (H3N2)-like virus (new strain this year)
- B/Washington/02/2019-like virus
- B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus
The following products will be available in B.C. this season for specific age groups. Products cannot be guaranteed as availability changes throughout the flu season.
Quadrivalent Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine
Live attenuated influenza vaccine is made from weakened influenza viruses and is administered as an intranasal spray into both nostrils.
FLUMIST® - individuals 2-17 years of age
Quadrivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccines
Injectable influenza vaccine is made from inactivated influenza viruses and is administered as an injection (shot).
FLULAVAL® - individuals 6 month of age and older
FLUZONE® - individuals 6 month of age and older
AFLURIA® - individuals 6 month of age and older
FLUZONE® HIGH-DOSE - Individuals over 65 years and living in long term care/assisted living facilities or living in First Nations communities
