Please download a Flu Shot Consent Form here: Flu Shot Consent Form 10.1.2021
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)(external link), which advises the Public Health Agency of Canada, recommends the flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older. Currently we are focusing on the first high risk group.
Immunization of High-Risk Groups
Per the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), individuals in the following four groups are particularly recommended to receive the influenza vaccine:
- Individuals at high risk of influenza-related complications or who are more likely to require hospitalization:
- All pregnant women
- People who are residents of nursing homes or other chronic care facilities
- People ≥ 65 years of age
- All children 6 months to 4 years of age
- Indigenous peoples
- Adults or children 6 months of age and over with chronic health conditions as follows:
- Cardiac or pulmonary disorders
- Diabetes mellitus or other metabolic disease
- Cancer
- Conditions or medication which compromise the immune system (due to underlying disease, therapy or both)
- Renal disease
- Anemia or hemoglobinopathy
- Neurologic or neurodevelopment conditions
- Morbid obesity (body mass index of ≥ 40)
- Children and adolescents (6 months to 18 years) undergoing treatment with acetylsalicylic acid for long periods
- Individuals capable of transmitting influenza to those listed in #1 and/or to infants under 6 months of age:
- Health care workers and other care providers in facilities and community settings
- Household contacts (adults and children) of individuals at high risk of influenza related complications
- Persons who provide care to children ≤ 4 years of age
- Members of a household expecting a newborn during the influenza season
- Those who provide services within a closed or relatively closed setting to persons at high risk (e.g., crew on a ship)
- People who provide essential community services
- Poultry industry workers
To reduce the risk of severe illness that could potentially arise from co-infection with COVID-19 and influenza, individuals who are at high risk of severe COVID-19 related illness or those capable of transmitting influenza to those at high risk of severe and critical illness related to COVID-19 are particularly recommended to receive the influenza vaccine this fall.