Seasonal Vaccine Eligibility Criteria

Seasonal Vaccine High Risk Criteria

Not sure if you qualify for a flu, COVID-19, or RSV vaccine? Review the tabs below to see the eligibility criteria for each vaccine. These categories help identify individuals at higher risk of severe illness who may benefit most from vaccination.

Flu Vaccine Eligibility

Who Should Get Their Flu Vaccine Early?

The following individuals are at increased risk of influenza-related complications and are encouraged to receive their flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available:

High-Risk Groups

  • Residents of congregate living settings, including:

    • Long-term care homes

    • Retirement homes

    • Chronic care facilities

  • Adults aged 65 years and older

  • Pregnant individuals

  • Children 6 months to 4 years of age

  • Individuals who identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit

  • Individuals 6 months of age and older with:

    • Cardiac or pulmonary disorders

    • Diabetes or other metabolic diseases

    • Cancer

    • Conditions or medications that compromise the immune system

    • Renal disease

    • Anemia or hemoglobinopathy

    • Neurologic or neurodevelopmental conditions

    • Class 3 obesity (BMI of 40 kg/m² or greater)

    • Children and adolescents (6 months to 18 years) receiving long-term acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) therapy

Priority Groups

The following individuals may also receive their flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available:

  • Staff and care providers working in congregate living settings

  • Health care workers

  • First responders

  • Members of underserved communities

  • Individuals whose work or recreational activities increase their risk of exposure to avian influenza A(H5N1), including:

    • Poultry workers

    • Livestock workers

    • Slaughterhouse and processing plant workers

    • Wildlife officers and researchers

    • Veterinarians

 

Individuals 6 months of age and older who are not part of a high-risk or priority group can receive the flu vaccine beginning October 26, 2026.

The flu vaccine is particularly recommended for:

  • Care providers in the community

  • Household contacts of individuals at high risk of influenza-related complications

  • Breastfeeding individuals

  • Individuals who provide care for children 4 years of age and younger

  • Members of households expecting a newborn during influenza season

  • Individuals providing services in closed or semi-closed settings with high-risk individuals

  • Individuals who provide essential community services

COVID-19 Eligibility

Who Should Get Their COVID-19 Vaccine Early?

The following individuals are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 illness and should receive their COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it becomes available.

High-Risk Group 1

These individuals should receive a fall COVID-19 vaccine and an additional dose in the spring:

  • Adults aged 80 years and older

  • Residents of long-term care homes aged 18 years and older

  • Residents of congregate living settings aged 65 years and older

  • First Nations, Inuit, and Métis individuals aged 55 years and older, and their non-Indigenous household members aged 55 years and older

  • Individuals aged 6 months and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised

  • Adults aged 65 to 79 years with one or more of the following conditions:

    • Cancer

    • Cerebrovascular disease

    • Chronic kidney disease

    • Chronic liver disease

    • Chronic lung disease

    • Cystic fibrosis

    • Diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2)

    • Disabilities, including Down syndrome, developmental disabilities, ADHD, cerebral palsy, congenital disabilities, and spinal cord injuries

    • Heart conditions

    • HIV infection

    • Mental health disorders, including depression and schizophrenia spectrum disorders

    • Obesity

    • Pregnancy or recent pregnancy

    • Primary immunodeficiency diseases

    • Current or former smoking

    • Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant

    • Tuberculosis

    • Use of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive medications

High-Risk Group 2

The following individuals should receive a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it becomes available in the fall:

  • Residents of long-term care homes aged 17 years and younger

  • Residents of congregate living settings aged 64 years and younger

  • Pregnant individuals

  • First Nations, Inuit, and Métis individuals aged 54 years and younger, and their non-Indigenous household members aged 6 months to 54 years

  • Individuals aged 64 years and younger with the medical conditions listed above

  • Children and youth with complex health needs, including:

    • Medical fragility or medical complexity

    • Multiple chronic conditions

    • Neurological disorders

    • Chronic lung disease

    • Down syndrome (Trisomy 21)

    • Other immunocompromising conditions

  • Health care workers

  • Care providers

  • First responders

  • Workers in continuing care and long-term care settings

  • Home care providers supporting high-risk individuals

  • Healthcare students and trainees

  • Members of underserved communities

Priority Groups

The following individuals may receive COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it becomes available:

  • Children 6 months to 4 years of age

  • Individuals whose work or recreational activities increase their risk of exposure to avian influenza A(H5N1)

Individuals 6 months of age and older who are not part of a high-risk or priority group can receive their COVID-19 vaccine beginning October 26, 2026.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine Eligibility

Everyone aged 75 or older is eligible for one publicly funded dose of RSV. 

If an individual has previously received a dose of RSV vaccine they do not need to 
receive another dose as booster doses are not currently recommended. 

Adults age 60 to 74 who meet one or more of the following criteria are eligible for one publicly funded dose of RSV vaccine:

  • Residents of:

    • Long-term care homes

    • Elder Care Lodges

    • Retirement homes

    • Similar congregate living settings

  • Recipients of a hematopoietic stem cell transplant within the past two years or with ongoing immunosuppression

  • Individuals on home oxygen or requiring chronic oxygen therapy

  • Patients receiving Alternate Level of Care (ALC) in hospital or similar settings, including:

    • Complex continuing care

    • Hospital transitional programs

  • Patients with glomerulonephritis (GN) who are moderately to severely immunocompromised

  • Individuals receiving hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis

  • Solid organ transplant recipients

  • Individuals experiencing homelessness

  • Individuals who identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis

If an individual has previously received a dose of RSV vaccine they do not need to receive another dose as booster doses are not currently recommended. 

Questions? Please contact us at 705-474-1400 ext 5252 or email us at vpd@healthunit.ca

Updated by VPD Sep 2026

Contact Us

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit

North Bay
345 Oak Street West

Parry Sound
90 Bowes St, 2nd Floor, Suite 201

Phone 705-474-1400
Toll Free 1-800-563-2808
contact@healthunit.ca