Pharmacists urge vaccination as fewer than half of Canadians plan to get their flu or COVID-19 shots this fall
October 28, 2025 (Ottawa): As Canada enters another respiratory virus season, pharmacists are urging Canadians to protect themselves and their communities as new polling shows vaccination intentions remain low.
According to a new national survey conducted by Abacus Data for the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA), 43% of Canadians plan to get their seasonal flu shot, and 29% intend to receive a COVID-19 vaccine this fall. Most concerning, nearly 4 in 10 Canadians (39%) say they don’t plan to get either vaccine.
“Based on our national survey, the number of Canadians with plans to get vaccinated against both flu and COVID-19 is lower than we’d like to see heading into this season,” said Sadaf Faisal, Director of Professional Affairs, CPhA. “Pharmacists are concerned that too many people may forgo vaccination and leave themselves vulnerable as respiratory viruses start to circulate.”
Lingering complacency as virus season begins
While it’s too early to predict how severe the season will be, respiratory infections are already circulating across Canada, including influenza, COVID-19 and RSV.
Low vaccine intentions in CPhA’s recent polling point to lingering complacency that may be discouraging some Canadians from getting vaccinated. Pharmacists and other health experts continue to emphasize the importance of vaccination—particularly for older adults, children, pregnant individuals and those with underlying health conditions—as the best protection against serious illness and hospitalization.
Affordability could become a barrier
With some provinces moving away from fully publicly funded COVID-19 vaccination programs and introducing fees for people outside of high-risk eligibility groups, pharmacists are concerned that cost could discourage Canadians from getting vaccinated and widen protection gaps.
National polling supports these concerns: more than three-quarters (77%) of Canadians said they would be unlikely to get a COVID-19 vaccine if required to pay about $100 for it. This highlights the importance of maintaining publicly funded and easily accessible vaccination programs to ensure broad protection across the population.
Pharmacies ready to deliver
Pharmacies across Canada are already rolling out updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines as they become available to eligible groups. Nearly half (48%) of Canadians say they plan to get both vaccines, and in many cases, they can be administered at the same appointment.
“Pharmacists are ready to help Canadians protect themselves this season,” added Faisal. “Getting vaccinated is quick, easy, and one of the most effective ways to stay healthy through the fall and winter.”
Canadians are encouraged to check with their local pharmacy for eligibility and availability as vaccine programs expand and supplies continue to roll out across the country this fall.
About the Canadian Pharmacists Association
The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) is the uniting national voice of pharmacy and the pharmacist profession in Canada. As pharmacists undertake an enhanced role in the delivery of health care services, CPhA ensures that the profession is recognized as a national leader in health care, influencing the policies, programs, budgets and initiatives affecting the profession and the health of Canadians.
For more information, please contact:
Tyler Gogo
Senior Manager, Communications
Canadian Pharmacists Association
tgogo@pharmacists.ca
613-293-7223