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Flu shot uptake remained low last season, with just 34 per cent of Canadian adults vaccinated – down 10 percentage points from three seasons earlier; Pharmasave pharmacists encourage Canadians to get vaccinated and check whether other vaccines or boosters may be due
LANGLEY, B.C. – October 1, 2026 – As fall flu immunization programs begin rolling out across Canada, Pharmasave pharmacists are urging Canadians to protect themselves and those around them by getting their annual flu shot while also checking whether other recommended vaccines are up to date. The reminder comes as flu vaccination uptake remains at decade-low levels. Just 34 per cent of Canadian adults were vaccinated during the 2025-26 season, essentially unchanged from the previous season but down from 44 per cent three seasons earlier, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. The 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons recorded the two lowest adult flu vaccination coverage rates in the 10-season period from 2016-17 to 2025-26.[1][2]
“Annual vaccination remains an important way to protect yourself and those around you. As this year’s flu vaccines become available across the country, we’re encouraging Canadians to make getting their annual flu shot a priority this fall,” says Billy Cheung, Head of Pharmacy at Pharmasave. “Influenza can cause serious illness and complications, particularly for those who are most vulnerable. Vaccination uptake remains low despite the continued risk of serious illness and hospitalization from influenza and other respiratory illnesses.”
Flu vaccination uptake among adults was even lower in some provinces, including Quebec (28 per cent), Alberta (30 per cent) and Manitoba (30 per cent).[1]
Recent data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information show that hospitalization rates for vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases remain more than double pre-pandemic levels, reaching 142 hospitalizations per 100,000 residents in 2024–25. COVID-19 accounted for 25,501 hospitalizations, influenza for 19,225 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for 10,391.[3]
Among Canadian adults who did not get a flu shot during the 2025-26 season, the most commonly reported reason was the perception that they were not at risk (28 per cent), followed by simply not getting around to it (19 per cent).[1]
“Being healthy doesn’t mean you don’t need a flu shot. Influenza can affect anyone, and even if you don’t become seriously ill yourself, you can pass it on to someone who is at greater risk of complications,” says Cheung. “That’s an important misconception pharmacists can help address. We can answer questions, talk through individual risk and help people make informed decisions about vaccination.”
Community pharmacists play an important role in helping patients navigate seasonal immunization. In addition to administering flu and COVID-19 vaccines, pharmacists can answer questions, provide guidance based on age, health status and other risk factors, and help patients understand what other vaccinations may be recommended for them.
Pharmacies have become the most common place for Canadians to get their flu shot. In the agency’s latest 2025-26 survey, 60 per cent of vaccinated adults reported receiving their flu vaccine at a pharmacy.[1] By comparison, 28 per cent of vaccinated adults reported receiving their flu shot at a pharmacy in 2016-17.[4] These figures underscore the growing role of community pharmacies as a convenient and accessible option for seasonal vaccination.
“Pharmacists are among the most accessible health-care professionals in the country, and for many Canadians, their local pharmacy is close to home and already part of their health-care routine,” says Cheung. “Patients can conveniently get their flu shot while picking up medications or taking care of other health needs, with a pharmacist there to answer questions and provide trusted guidance.”
Flu Shot Season a Good Time to Check What Other Immunizations and Boosters May Be Due with Help from Pharmasave Pharmacists and Interactive Vaccine Calculator
While flu and COVID-19 vaccines are top of mind during respiratory illness season, Pharmasave pharmacists are also encouraging Canadians to use their seasonal vaccination visit as an opportunity to make sure their other recommended vaccinations are up to date.
“Vaccination doesn’t end in childhood. Adults may need different vaccines or boosters depending on their age, health and other risk factors, and many may not know whether they’re up to date,” says Cheung. “When you come in for your flu shot, it’s a good opportunity to ask your pharmacist to review your vaccination history and make sure you’re not missing anything that’s recommended for you.”
To help Canadians better understand what vaccines they may need, Pharmasave offers an Interactive Vaccine Calculator that guides users through a series of questions and provides information about vaccines that may be recommended for them to discuss with their pharmacist or another health-care professional.
Depending on those factors, adults may need to consider vaccines or boosters that protect against illnesses such as shingles, pneumococcal disease, RSV, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, among others.
Pharmasave also offers a digital vaccine guide with information to help Canadians learn more about adult immunization and vaccine-preventable illnesses.
“Staying up to date on vaccinations is an important part of protecting your health throughout your life,” says Cheung. “Pharmacists can help people make sense of changing recommendations, answer questions and provide the guidance they need to feel confident about their immunization decisions.”
Flu and COVID-19 vaccine availability, eligibility and appointment timing vary by province and territory. Canadians should contact their local Pharmasave or visit Pharmasave.com for information about immunization services and booking options in their community.
2026-27 Flu Season: Quick Facts
- Flu shot uptake remains at decade-low levels: Thirty-four per cent of Canadian adults were vaccinated in 2025-26, essentially unchanged from the previous season but down from 44 per cent three seasons earlier. The past two seasons recorded the lowest adult flu vaccination coverage rates in the past 10 seasons.[1][2]
- Respiratory illness continues to cause serious health impacts: The hospitalization rate for vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases more than doubled compared with pre-pandemic levels, reaching 142 hospitalizations per 100,000 residents in 2024-25. Influenza alone accounted for 19,225 hospitalizations.[3]
- Pharmacies are playing a growing role: The share of vaccinated adults reporting a pharmacy as the place they received their flu shot rose from 28 per cent in 2016-17 to 57 per cent in 2023-24.[4][5] In the latest 2025-26 survey, 60 per cent of vaccinated adults reported receiving their flu shot at a pharmacy.[1]
- Don’t wait for the “perfect” time: A 2026 Public Health Agency of Canada review found that the potential benefits of delaying a flu shot are generally small and can be lost if delaying vaccination results in people missing their shot altogether.[6]
- Australia’s 2026 flu season: Year-to-date influenza cases in Australia were 56.9 per cent lower than over the same period in 2025. The Australian CDC says the timing of influenza activity in Australia has been broadly consistent with pre-pandemic seasonal patterns, characterized by increasing case numbers from June and peaks in late August to early September.[7]
About Pharmasave
Pharmasave is one of Canada’s leading independently owned and operated community pharmacies, with over 900 stores across the country. Since its founding in 1981, Pharmasave has been committed to building genuine connections while delivering exceptional patient-centered healthcare, expert medication advice, quality drugstore products, and outstanding customer service. As a Canadian, member-owned and governed cooperative, Pharmasave empowers independent pharmacy owners while maintaining deep roots in local communities nationwide. For over four decades, the company’s unwavering commitment to excellence, compassion, and the well-being of every customer has guided its mission—because Pharmasave believes that connection and care makes all the difference.
To learn more about Pharmasave visit Pharmasave.com.
References
[1] Public Health Agency of Canada. Seasonal Respiratory Vaccination Coverage Survey (SRVCS): Vaccination Coverage Report, 2025–2026. Government of Canada, May 26, 2026.Seasonal Respiratory Vaccination Coverage Survey Report [2] Public Health Agency of Canada. Vaccine Uptake in Canadian Adults 2019. Government of Canada, 2019.
2018-2019 Influenza Vaccine Coverage Survey Results [3] Canadian Institute for Health Information. Hospitalizations for Vaccine-Preventable Respiratory Diseases Surpass Pre-Pandemic Levels. April 16, 2026.
Hospitalizations for Vaccine-Preventable Respiratory Diseases Surpass Pre-Pandemic Levels [4] Public Health Agency of Canada. Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Coverage in Canada, 2022–2023. Government of Canada, Sept. 20, 2023.
Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Coverage in Canada, 2022–2023 [5] Public Health Agency of Canada. Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Coverage in Canada, 2023–2024. Government of Canada, Dec. 3, 2024.
Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Coverage in Canada, 2023–2024 [6] Doyon-Plourde P, Tadount F, Gil A, Lazarescu C, Ursu MM, Sicard N, Siu W, Sinilaité A. “Intraseasonal waning of influenza vaccine effectiveness and implications for the optimal timing of seasonal vaccination programs: A scoping review.” Canada Communicable Disease Report. 2026;52(6):231–45.
View Study [7] Australian Centre for Disease Control. Australian Respiratory Surveillance Report – 7 September to 20 September 2026. Australian Government, Sept. 25, 2026.
Australian Respiratory Surveillance Report PDF
