Adult Immunizations

Staying active, eating healthy, being aware of your changing health needs as you age are all part of a healthy lifestyle. Keeping your vaccines up-to-date is another area of your life that can help you stay healthy.

Did you know that:

  • There are about 130,000 new cases of shingles in Canada each year?
  • Ontario adults aged 65 years and older are more likely to be hospitalized if they get invasive pneumococcal disease, such as pneumonia? Yet only 37 per cent of Canadian adults get the vaccine.
  • Only 53 per cent of Canadian adults report getting a tetanus vaccine as an adult?

Benefits

  • Avoid unnecessary suffering
  • Stay independent
  • Be able to care for those who depend on you
  • Keep you from missing work
  • Save you money

Video: Tetanus

Video: Get your Pertussis Booster

Checking your Vaccination Records

If you can't find your old vaccination records, request your records online or ask your health care provider.

Getting your Vaccines

  • Vaccines

    Adults need helper, or booster, shots to maintain immunity. Vaccinations needed for adults vary from person to person depending on:

    • Medical history
    • What you do for work
    • What your lifestyle is like
    • If you are travelling to other countries
    • New vaccines

    If you're a family member or caregiver for an infant or young child, you will want to make sure you have a Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) booster. Pertussis (whooping cough) is a serious infection that is easily spread through coughing and sneezing. Pertussis is most serious in children less than one year of age and can cause pneumonia and brain damage.

  • Where to get vaccinated

    You can get your vaccinations up-to-date with your health care provider, a walk-in clinic, some pharmacies or by booking an appointment at one of our clinics.

  • Cost of vaccination

    Some vaccines are publicly funded (free) for individuals who meet the Publicly Funded Immunization Schedules for Ontario criteria. To find out if you're eligible, talk to your health care provider or call the Vaccine Preventable Disease program.

    Other vaccines may need to be purchased or covered by school, work or private drug insurance plans. These are vaccines that individuals request for school, work or personal reasons such as travel. You have to pay or use insurance for these vaccines because they don't meet the publicly funded criteria.

  • Travelling outside of Canada

    Search for a destination to find out if you need vaccinations.

    For your travel counselling and vaccine needs, visit a:

    • Health care provider
    • Walk-in clinic
    • Pharmacy (contact your local pharmacy to see what services are available and if you need a prescription)
    • Travel clinic
    • Yellow Fever vaccination centre

More Information

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