Canada

Flu vaccine no longer free for all Quebecers; high risk groups only

By
Rachel Lau

Published: 

A pediatrician gives a small boy a vaccine.

The flu vaccine is no longer free for all Quebecers, the province’s Health Ministry confirmed to CTV News on Wednesday.

Government officials explained that they have chosen to return to the pre-pandemic guidelines set out by the Quebec Immunization Committee (CIQ), in line with the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).

“The CIQ’s recommendations have remained unchanged for several years,” the ministry pointed out. “However, in recent years — particularly during the pandemic — the decision was made to offer vaccination free of charge to everyone.”

Quebec drops free COVID-19 vaccines Quebec residents can now book their COVID-19 vaccinations, but only high-risk individuals and health-care workers will receive them for free.

The Quebec Health Ministry said it is limiting free access to focus on “increasing vaccination coverage rates among populations at higher risk of complications and death.”

“Vaccination recommendations are based on several criteria, including the efficacy and safety of vaccines, the expected benefits for the population and cost-effectiveness analyses,” it told CTV News. “Decisions regarding vaccination programs must also be considered within the broader context of immunization portfolio management.”

The ministry added that the goal this year is to vaccinate eight out of 10 people in the highest-risk groups against the flu, COVID-19 and RSV.

“It should be noted that data in other jurisdictions show that universal free vaccination does not necessarily lead to high vaccination coverage,” it stressed.

“Given that several factors influence the decision to get vaccinated, it is important to evaluate the respective advantages of a universal approach versus a targeted approach focused on those most at risk.”

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Who is eligible?

The flu vaccine is offered free of charge to the following groups:

  • people aged 65 or older;
  • people aged six months or older who have chronic diseases (such as diabetes, a weakened immune system or heart, lung and kidney disease);
  • people living in residential and long-term care centres (CHSLDs, seniors’ homes) and intermediate resources in support of seniors’ autonomy (RI-SAPA);
  • people living in seniors’ residences (RPAs) or other communal settings with a high number of elderly and vulnerable people;
  • pregnant women with chronic diseases, regardless of the stage of pregnancy, or those who are healthy and at least 13 weeks along.

Vaccination is also free for anyone who could transmit an illness to a high-risk person.

This includes health care workers, as well as people who live in the same home or who are caregivers for:

  • a child under six months of age,
  • a person aged 75 or older,
  • a resident of a CHSLD or RI-SAPA,
  • a resident of an RPA or a communal setting with a high number of elderly and vulnerable people,
  • a pregnant person,
  • a person living with certain chronic diseases.

During the 2025–2026 influenza vaccination campaign, children under the age of 18 accounted for five per cent of the total number of doses administered.