TorontoFree flu and COVID-19 vaccines are now available to everyone six months and older who lives, works or goes to school in Ontario. RSV immunization free for vulnerable populations, including everyone over 75Jes Mason · CBC News · Posted: Oct 29, 2025 4:47 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoListen to this articleEstimated 2 minutesFree RSV immunization is now available to everyone over 75 in Ontario. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)Free flu and COVID-19 vaccines are now available to everyone six months and older who lives, works or goes to school in Ontario. The Ministry of Health recommends getting both the COVID-19 and flu shots at the same time every fall in order to protect against respiratory illness — by both preventing infection and reducing the severity of illness.“Doctors strongly encourage everyone to get their flu and COVID-19 vaccines this season,” said Zainab Abdurrahman, president of the Ontario Medical Association, in a news release Wednesday.“These vaccines are safe, effective, and one of the best ways to protect the most vulnerable members of our communities,” she said. “Getting vaccinated now helps prevent serious disease later and eases pressure on our health-care system during respiratory illness season.”Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are available at participating pharmacies, public health units and doctor and nurse practitioner offices. Children under two years old cannot get a flu shot at a pharmacy, and some pharmacies may not give COVID-19 vaccines to children under five.WATCH | Quebec and Alberta charging up to $180 for COVID-19 shot:Quebec and Alberta now charge for COVID-19 shotsCOVID-19 vaccines have started rolling out across Canada for high-risk groups, but in Quebec and Alberta people will have to pay up to $180 for the shot this year.Expanded RSV prevention programThe province also offers respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunization to vulnerable groups, including infants, high-risk children, pregnant women and seniors.This season, RSV immunization is available for free to:Everyone over the age of 75.Certain high-risk adults over 60.Infants under eight months old who were born April 1 or after.Certain high-risk children under the age of two.Some pregnant women.Pharmacies do not currently administer publicly-funded RSV immunizations.In the news release, the ministry said Ontarians should contact their health-care provider, visit the Health811 website or call 811 for more information.ABOUT THE AUTHORJes Mason is a writer and photographer from Toronto. Their work has also been published in Toronto Life and Xtra Magazine.
Free flu and COVID-19 vaccines now available across Ontario
