Vaccines are our best defense against many diseases that can be very contagious and cause serious illness, hospitalization, and even death. The vaccines you need may depend on your age, health condition, occupation, travel habits, environment, and lifestyle. Sometimes a booster dose is needed to stay protected. Some vaccinations may be covered under Ontario's Publicly Funded Routine Immunization Schedule (also available in French 
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Before getting any vaccines, talk to your health care provider to learn more about your specific needs, what dose schedule would be appropriate for you, and whether you’ll be covered under the publicly funded schedule. You can also check with your employer for any vaccines that may be required for your job.
| Vaccine | Protects Against | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| COVID-19 Vaccine | COVID-19 | Everyone in Ontario is eligible for a free COVID-19 vaccine in the fall every year. |
| Flu Vaccine | Influenza (flu) | Everyone in Ontario is eligible for a free flu vaccine in the fall every year. |
| Hepatitis B Vaccine | Hepatitis B | If you did not get this vaccine in grade 7 or 8, you can still get it as an adult, however the cost may not be covered. |
| HPV Vaccine | Human Papillomavirus (HPV) | In Ontario, HPV vaccination is typically given to students in grade 7 or 8. It is publicly funded until the end of grade 12.
It is also publicly funded for men who have sex with men ages 26 years old and younger. Adults ages 27 years and older can still get the vaccine if they are at ongoing risk of this virus, however it is not publicly funded. Talk to your health care provider. |
| Meningococcal vaccines (Men-C, MenACYW, 4CMenB/MenB-fHBP) | Meningitis | In Ontario, vaccination against meningitis occurs in childhood and in grades 7 or 8. If you missed vaccination as a child or in school, and were born in or after 1997, you are eligible to get the vaccine (MenACYW) for free.
Adults who are close contacts of a confirmed case or at high risk for invasive meningococcal disease may be eligible to get a publicly funded dose. |
| MMR Live Vaccine* | Measles, Mumps, and Rubella | In Ontario, MMR is routinely given on or after the first birthday. A second dose of MMRV is given between 4 to 6 years of age.
Two doses of a measles containing vaccine are recommended for adults born in or after 1970 who never had measles or have not already been vaccinated. Measles vaccines are publicly funded. Talk to a health care provider if you’re unsure if you were vaccinated. |
| Pneumococcal Conjugate C-20 Vaccine (Pneu-C-20) | Pneumococcal Disease | One dose of the publicly funded Pneu-C-20 vaccine is recommended and free for adults over 65 years of age. |
| Polio Vaccine (IPV) | Poliovirus | In Ontario, young children get polio vaccinations as part of the primary series of vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis.
If you missed this vaccination as a child, and are not up-to-date with your polio vaccinations, you can still get the free vaccine as an adult. |
| Shingles (Herpes Zoster) Vaccine | Shingles (Herpes Zoster) | Seniors aged 65 to 70 years of age are eligible for free shingles vaccine (Shingrix) under the publicly funded immunization schedule as a two dose series.
A health care provider may recommend it to if you are 50 to 64 years of age, or if you are 18 years of age and older and are or will be immunocompromised, but it is not publicly funded. |
| Tdap Vaccine | Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis | One free publicly funded Tdap booster is recommended for adults 18 years of age and older in Ontario.
For pregnant individuals, one publicly funded dose of Tdap vaccine is recommended for each pregnancy, regardless of how many doses of Tdap received in the past. |
| Td Vaccine | Tetanus, Diphtheria | A free diphtheria booster is recommended every 10 years after completing the primary series of Tdap.
Individuals who didn’t receive the Tdap vaccine as a child should get the Tdap-IPV vaccine. |
| Varicella Live Vaccine* | Chickenpox (Varicella) | Recommended for individuals ages 18 to 49 years old who never had chickenpox or were not vaccinated, and are not pregnant or immunocompromised.
It is publicly funded for anyone born in or after 2000, and anyone born in 1999 or earlier who have certain health conditions or live with someone who has a weak immune system. Talk to a health care provider if you’re unsure if you were vaccinated. |
*Generally, live vaccines should not be given during pregnancy, and people who get live vaccines should not try to get pregnant for at least four weeks after getting the vaccine.
The following vaccines are recommended for anyone who is planning a pregnancy and/or during a pregnancy.
| Vaccine | Protects Against | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Abrysvo® Vaccine | Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) | To prevent RSV infection in newborns and infancy, RSV prevention is recommended during RSV season. RSV season is generally from November to April, peaking in December.
Infants can receive Nirsevimab (preferred) or Abrysvo® vaccine can be given to pregnant individuals between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy who will deliver near the start of or during RSV season. Abrysvo® is available on a case-by-case basis in consultation with your health care provider. |
| COVID-19 Vaccine | COVID-19 | Recommended in each pregnancy at any stage of the pregnancy (i.e., in any trimester) and while breastfeeding. Family members are encouraged to be vaccinated.
Protects the mother and baby from COVID-19 related complications during respiratory virus season (which is usually from October to April each year). Everyone in Ontario is eligible for a free COVID-19 vaccine in the fall every year. |
| Flu Vaccine | Influenza (flu) | Recommended in each pregnancy at any stage of the pregnancy (i.e., in any trimester) and while breastfeeding. Family members are encouraged to be vaccinated.
Protects the mother and baby from flu-related complications during flu season (which is usually from October to April of each year). Everyone in Ontario is eligible for a free flu vaccine in the fall every year. |
| Hepatitis A Vaccine | Hepatitis A | Consider when planning a pregnancy if not already vaccinated or during a pregnancy if travelling or at higher risk of infection due to your job.
Protects against hepatitis A, which can cause severe disease in pregnancy. The vaccine is not free but may be for individuals at greater risk of infection. Talk to a health care provider if you’re unsure if you’ve been vaccinated. |
| Hepatitis B Vaccine | Hepatitis B | Recommended when planning a pregnancy or during pregnancy if not already vaccinated, however the cost may not be covered.
Prevents transmission of infection to the baby. Chronic carriers of hepatitis B should talk to their health care provider about preventing transmission to their babies. |
| Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine | Human Papillomavirus (HPV) | Can be given during pregnancy if not already vaccinated, however the cost may not be covered.
Reduces risk of cervical abnormalities, cancer, genital warts, and prevents infection and transmission of HPV warts and respiratory papillomatosis to babies. |
| MMR Vaccine* | Measles, Mumps, and Rubella | Recommended when planning a pregnancy if not already vaccinated and not currently pregnant.
Two doses are recommended for full protection. Talk to a health care provider if you're unsure if you've been vaccinated. Reduces the risk of infection during pregnancy. For example, a rubella infection in early pregnancy can cause miscarriage and congenital rubella syndrome. A measles infection in pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, low birth weight and miscarriage. |
| Polio Vaccine (IPV) | Poliovirus | Consider when planning a pregnancy if not already vaccinated or during a pregnancy if travelling or at higher risk of infection due to your job.
If you missed this vaccination as a child, and are not up to date with your polio vaccinations, you can still get the free vaccine as an adult. |
| Tdap Vaccine | Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis | One dose of Tdap is publicly funded for each pregnancy regardless of previous vaccination, preferably given between 27 to 32 weeks.
Reduces the baby’s risk of infection with pertussis before they are six months old, when they are at highest risk of complications from pertussis infection. Vaccinating the family will also protect babies from pertussis infection. Vaccination against tetanus will protect babies from neonatal tetanus. |
| Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine* | Chickenpox (Varicella) | Recommended when planning a pregnancy if you have never had chickenpox or a chickenpox vaccination before, and are not currently pregnant.
Reduces the risk of infection during pregnancy. Infection with chickenpox in early pregnancy increases the risk of birth defects in babies and can cause serious complications such as pneumonia. It is free for anyone born in or after 2000, and anyone born in 1999 or earlier who have certain health conditions or live with someone who has a weak immune system. Talk to a health care provider if you’re unsure if you've been vaccinated. |
*Generally, live vaccines should not be given during pregnancy, and people who get live vaccines should not try to get pregnant for at least four weeks after getting the vaccine.
Travelers should visit a travel health clinic at least four weeks before traveling to find out if any vaccinations are needed based on the purpose of travel, length of travel, and destination. Note that some vaccinations required for travel are not publicly funded. The below vaccines are publicly funded for travel.
| Vaccines | Protects against | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| MMR Live Vaccine* | Measles, Mumps, and Rubella | Adults who only have one dose of the MMR vaccine are eligible to get a free second dose if they are planning to travel to areas where the disease is a concern. |
| Polio vaccine (IPV) | Poliovirus
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis |
Adults who have completed their vaccinations against polio virus and are planning to travel to an area where the virus is known or suspected to be spreading are eligible to get one free IPV-containing booster dose. |
For information about vaccines that are not publicly funded or other travel vaccines, please refer to NACI and CAMAT for indications and usage.