Influenza
Influenza (flu shot)
FLUZONE · FLUZONE HIGH-DOSE · FLUAD · FLUCELVAX · FLUMIST · INFLUVAC
One dose every season; young children may need two the first time. Every product below is a Health Canada authorized vaccine; every schedule comes from the Canadian Immunization Guide.
Products authorized in Canada
Brand names and DINs (Drug Identification Numbers) as Health Canada's Drug Product Database lists them. The product monograph is the manufacturer's full prescribing information approved by Health Canada.
| Product | DIN | What it is | Presentation and age | Official information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLUZONE | 02365707 | Inactivated influenza vaccine (split virion) | 0.5 mL · intramuscular · 6 months and older | Product guideHealth Canada recordMonograph: see the Health Canada record |
| FLUZONE | 02365936 | Inactivated influenza vaccine (split virion) | Intramuscular · 6 months and older | Product guideHealth Canada recordMonograph: see the Health Canada record |
| FLUZONE HIGH-DOSE | 02445646 | Inactivated influenza vaccine, high-dose | Intramuscular · 65 years and older | Product guideHealth Canada recordMonograph: see the Health Canada record |
| FLUAD | 02362384 | Inactivated influenza vaccine, adjuvanted | 0.5 mL prefilled syringe · intramuscular · 65 years and older | Product guideHealth Canada recordMonograph: see the Health Canada record |
| FLUCELVAX | 02553708 | Inactivated influenza vaccine (cell-based) | Prefilled syringe · intramuscular · 6 months and older | Product guideHealth Canada recordMonograph: see the Health Canada record |
| FLUMIST Live vaccine | 02352621 | Live attenuated influenza vaccine | Nasal spray · 2 to 59 years | Product guideHealth Canada recordMonograph: see the Health Canada record |
| INFLUVAC | 02269562 | Inactivated influenza vaccine (subunit) | Intramuscular · 6 months and older | Product guideHealth Canada recordMonograph: see the Health Canada record |
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Pregnancy
Recommended at any stage of pregnancy. Use a non-live (inactivated) influenza vaccine; the live nasal spray (FLUMIST) is contraindicated in pregnancy.
Breastfeeding
Recommended. Either an inactivated vaccine or the live nasal spray may be used.
Source: Immunization in pregnancy and breastfeeding: Canadian Immunization Guide — Chapter updated August 2026. Live vaccines are generally contraindicated in pregnancy; routinely recommended vaccines can be given while breastfeeding unless the chapter says otherwise.
How many doses
The schedules the Canadian Immunization Guide describes for this vaccine. Which one applies depends on age, health and product — use the dose planner to see the dates for your situation.
| Schedule | Doses | Who it is for | Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flu shot — child’s first flu vaccine ever (6 months to 8 years): two doses Two doses at least 4 weeks apart in the first season a child is vaccinated. | 2 doses | Children 6 months to less than 9 years of age who have not previously received at least 1 dose of the seasonal influenza vaccine require 2 doses of influenza vaccine, with a minimum of 4 weeks between doses. In every later season, one dose is enough. | FLUZONE, FLUZONE HIGH-DOSE, FLUAD, FLUCELVAX, FLUMIST, INFLUVAC |
| Flu shot — one dose every season One dose each influenza season for everyone 6 months and older who has had a flu vaccine before, and for everyone 9 years and older. | 1 dose | Everyone 6 months of age and older should receive influenza vaccine every season. One dose per season, except children 6 months to 8 years receiving flu vaccine for the very first time, who need two. In pregnancy an inactivated (non-live) vaccine is used. | FLUZONE, FLUZONE HIGH-DOSE, FLUAD, FLUCELVAX, FLUMIST, INFLUVAC |
Sources
- Influenza vaccines: Canadian Immunization Guide — Chapter revised June 2026 · partial update August 2026
- Health Canada Drug Product Database — product records and monographs
Clinical rules reviewed on 2026-09-27. General information from public Canadian guidance; a personal assessment is needed for treatment decisions. Care365 does not decide whether a vaccine is publicly funded in Ontario.