Manitoba Health

Seasonal Influenza (Flu) Vaccines and Eligibility

All Manitobans are encouraged to get their free seasonal influenza (flu) vaccine every year in the early fall. It is also important to ensure you are up to date with all other recommended immunizations, especially if you are in a high-risk group. You can receive the flu vaccine together with other vaccines like the COVID-19 vaccine.

The vaccine is available from medical clinics, pharmacies and other locations. Use the Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Map to find a convenient location.

Influenza Vaccines

Manitoba currently offers both standard-dose and enhanced flu vaccines. All flu vaccines are safe and effective at protecting against the flu strains expected to cause the most illness this season, as well as severe flu and its complications.

A standard-dose flu vaccine is recommended for everyone aged six months and older. For adults aged 65 and older, an enhanced flu vaccine is recommended because it produces a stronger immune response by adding an adjuvant (an ingredient that boosts immunity) or increasing the amount of flu antigens (proteins that trigger immunity).

Children younger than nine years of age, who have never received a flu vaccine, need two doses at least four weeks apart to create the optimal protection against the flu. Only one dose is required each season after that.

Did you know?
Pharmacists can administer COVID-19 and flu vaccines to children 2 years of age and older.

Influenza Vaccine Eligibility

Manitoba offers influenza vaccines through Manitoba’s Routine Immunization Program:

Manitobans 6 months of age and older are eligible for the influenza vaccine free-of-charge.
Manitobans 65 years of age and older are eligible for one of two enhanced influenza vaccines free-of-charge:

Fluzone® High-Dose (Fluzone®HD) will be available for the following adults aged 65 years and older:

residents of long-term care facilities (LTCF), including new and unimmunized residents admitted during flu season;
residents of supported and assisted living facilities;
clients in interim or transitional care beds;
clients receiving homecare services while on a waiting list for admission into a LTCF;
Indigenous Manitobans regardless of residence;
people living in a remote or isolated community or north of the 53rd parallel of latitude;
individuals in provincial correctional facilities, including those who are newly incarcerated or transferred from other federal or out-of-province correctional facilities;
community dwelling individuals aged 80 years and older.

Fluad® (adjuvanted vaccine) will be available for all community dwelling individuals aged 65-79 years.

International students and out-of-province visitors are eligible to receive the flu vaccine free-of-charge regardless of third-party insurance and/or Manitoba Health coverage (an administration fee may be charged).

Priority Populations for Flu Immunization

An annual flu vaccine is especially important for those at increased risk of serious illness from the flu, their caregivers, and their close contacts. This includes:

People at high risk of influenza-related complications or hospitalization

All children 6 to 59 months of age
Adults 65 years of age and older
Adults and children with the following chronic health conditions:

Cardiac or pulmonary disorders (including bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cystic fibrosis, and asthma)
Diabetes mellitus and other metabolic diseases
Cancer, immune compromising conditions (due to underlying disease, therapy, or both, such as solid organ transplant or hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients)
Renal disease
Anemia or hemoglobinopathy
Neurologic or neurodevelopmental conditions (includes neuromuscular, neurovascular, neurodegenerative, neurodevelopmental conditions, and seizure disorders [and, for children, includes febrile seizures and isolated developmental delay], but excludes migraines and psychiatric conditions without neurological conditions)
Class 3 obesity (defined as BMI of 40 kg/m² and over)
Children 6 months to 18 years of age undergoing long-term treatment with acetylsalicylic acid, because of the potential increase of Reye's syndrome associated with influenza

All individuals who are pregnant
All individuals of any age who are residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities
Indigenous Peoples

People capable of transmitting influenza to those at high risk

Traditional healers, health care and other care providers in facilities and community settings who, through their activities, are capable of transmitting influenza to those at high risk
Household contacts, both adults and children, of individuals at high risk, whether or not the individual at high risk has been vaccinated:

household contacts of individuals at high risk
household contacts of infants less than 6 months of age, as these infants are at high risk but cannot receive influenza vaccine
members of a household expecting a newborn during the influenza season

Those providing regular childcare to children 0 to 59 months of age, whether in or out of the home
Those who provide services within closed or relatively closed settings to people at high risk (e.g., crew on a cruise ship)

Others

People who provide essential community services
People whose occupational or recreational activities increase their risk of exposure to avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses

Resources

Click here for more information about other recommended and publicly-funded vaccines.

Click here for more information about adverse events following immunization.

Get Started