Influenza

Influenza, or the flu, is a highly contagious and infectious respiratory disease. The flu causes fever, sore throat, tiredness, sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, nausea, vomiting, and muscle pain. Complications of the flu can result in trouble breathing, convulsions, seizures, and pneumonia.

The flu can spread through coughing and sneezing. You can become infected by coming in close contact with someone sick with the flu. You can also become infected by touching objects that someone with the flu has touched, and then touching your eyes or mouth.

Anyone can get infected by the the flu with the following populations being most at risk: children under 5 years of age, pregnant people, people with chronic conditions (such as: heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease, blood disorders diabetes, severe obesity, asthma and chronic lung disease, neurological disorders, cancer or immune-compromising conditions), indigenous communities, people 65 years of age and older and people who are residents of nursing homes or other chronic-care facilities.

Check out our resources on influenza immunization and share with your network!

For the Public

For Healthcare Professionals

Campaigns and Awareness Materials

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For the Public

Charts 2024-2025

Publicly funded seasonal influenza vaccines in Canada: 2024-2025

^{(updated chart – PDF: 103 KB)}

Publicly funded influenza vaccination programs in Canada: 2024-2025

^{(chart – PDF: 84 KB)}

Factsheets

Influenza Vaccines in Pregnancy: What You Need to Know

^{(factsheet – PDF: 508 KB)}

Influenza Vaccine Technologies

^{(updated factsheet – PDF: 562 KB)}

Influenza Q & A

^{(factsheet – PDF: 1.5 MB)}

Why do we need to get a flu vaccine every year? Answer: drift and shift.

^{(updated factsheet – PDF: 456 KB)}

Influenza in the Media. Knowing Your Source of Information.

^{(PDF: 214 KB)}

Infographics

Influenza Prevention in People with Asthma

^{(infographic – PDF: 697 KB)}

Influenza Prevention in Adults

^{(infographic – PDF: 1.2 MB)}

Influenza Prevention in Adults 65+

^{(updated infographic – PDF: 768 KB)}

Influenza Prevention in Children

^{(updated infographic – PDF: 771 KB)}

Influenza: The basics

^{(updated infographic – PDF: 766 KB)}

Protecting yourself and those in your care from the flu: What Canadian caregivers need to know.

^{(infographic by Global Coalition on Aging | Immunize Canada, September 2022)}

Podcasts

Podcast: The Interview Dudes speak with Dr. Anne Pham-Huy, Chair, Immunize Canada about the seasonal influenza vaccine

^{(25 October 2021)}

The Interview Dudes logo

TikTok Videos

Dr. Vivien Brown: Influenza (flu) myths vs. facts

Why you should get the influenza vaccine (flu shot) every year

What is influenza?

Influenza vaccines currently approved for use in Canada

What are standard-dose influenza vaccines?

What are adjuvanted influenza vaccines?

Let’s go over influenza vaccine formulations.

Let’s go over high-dose influenza vaccines.

Let’s go over egg-based manufacturing and influenza vaccines.

Let’s go over cell-based manufacturing and influenza vaccines.

What is the recombinant influenza vaccine?

Video | Protecting children against influenza (the flu) | By: Dr. Paul Roumeliotis in partnership with Immunize Canada

Video | Protecting adults 65 and older against influenza (the flu) | By: Dr. Paul Roumeliotis in partnership with Immunize Canada

For Healthcare Professionals

Pocket Guide for Immunizers

Pocket Guide for Immunizers: Influenza Immunization 2024-2025

^{(PDF: 1.5 MB)}

This pocket guide references recent recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI):

NACI Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2024-2025. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). 25 July 2024.
Summary of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization statement on seasonal influenza vaccine for 2024-2025. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). November 2024.
Supplemental guidance on influenza vaccination of adults 65 years of age and older. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). 25 July 2024.
Addendum to the statement on seasonal influenza vaccine for 2024-2025: Transition from quadrivalent to trivalent influenza vaccines. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). 25 July 2024.
Canadian Immunization Guide: Influenza vaccines. Public Health Agency of Canada. Updated 25 July 2024.
Canadian Immunization Guide: Basic immunology and vaccinology. Public Health Agency of Canada. Updated 30 October 2024.
Avian influenza A(H5N1): For health professionals. Public Health Agency of Canada. Updated 20 November 2024.

Video | How to administer the live-attenuated intranasal influenza vaccine (LAIV) | By: Dr. Paul Roumeliotis in partnership with Immunize Canada

NACI Statements

Statement on seasonal influenza vaccines for 2025-2026. 30 April 2025. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).

Summary of NACI statement of April 30, 2025: Statement on seasonal influenza vaccines for 2025–2026. 30 April 2025. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).

Rapid response: Preliminary guidance on human vaccination against avian influenza in a non-pandemic context as of December 2024. 19 February 2025. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).

Summary of NACI statement of February 19, 2025: Rapid response on preliminary guidance on human vaccination against avian influenza in a non-pandemic context as of December 2024. 19 February 2025. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).

Statement on seasonal influenza vaccine for 2024–2025. 25 July 2024. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).

Summary of NACI statement of July 25, 2024: Statement on seasonal influenza vaccine for 2024–2025. 25 July 2024. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).

Addendum to the statement on seasonal influenza vaccine for 2024-2025: Transition from quadrivalent to trivalent influenza vaccines. 25 July 2024. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).

Supplemental guidance on influenza vaccination in adults 65 years of age and older. 25 July 2024. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).

Summary of NACI statement of July 25, 2024: Supplemental guidance on influenza vaccination in adults 65 years of age and older. 25 July 2024. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).

Campaigns and Awareness Materials

Posters | Don’t let the flu get you down this season

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | pregnancy

^{(poster 1 – PDF: 3.9 MB)}

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | children

^{(poster 2 – PDF: 4.0 MB)}

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | teens and young adults

^{(poster 3 – PDF: 4.0 MB)}

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | adults

^{(poster 4 – PDF: 8.2 MB)}

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | older adults

^{(poster 5 – PDF: 3.9 MB)}

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | immunocompromised persons

^{(poster 6 – PDF: 8.2 MB)}

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | health care professionals

^{(poster 7 – PDF: 3.9 MB)}

Posters | Don’t let the flu get you down this season (in Spanish)

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | pregnancy

^{(poster 1 – PDF: 3.9 MB)}

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | children

^{(poster 2 – PDF: 4.0 MB)}

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | teens and young adults

^{(poster 3 – PDF: 3.9 MB)}

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | adults

^{(poster 4 – PDF: 8.2 MB)}

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | older adults

^{(poster 5 – PDF: 3.9 MB)}

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | immunocompromised persons

^{(poster 6 – PDF: 8.2 MB)}

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | health care professionals

^{(poster 7 – PDF: 3.9 MB)}

Posters | One visit. Two shots

One Visit. Two Shots. Protected | Co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

^{(poster 1 – PDF: 3.2 MB)}

One Visit. Two Shots. Protected | Co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

^{(poster 2 – PDF: 2.4 MB)}

One Visit. Two Shots. Protected | Co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

^{(poster 3 – PDF: 3.0 MB)}

One Visit. Two Shots. Protected | Co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

^{(poster 4 – PDF: 2.1 MB)}

One Visit. Two Shots. Protected | Co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

^{(poster 5 – PDF: 4.0 MB)}

Social Media Images | Don’t let the flu get you down this season

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | pregnancy

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | pregnancy

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | pregnancy

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | children

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | children

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | children

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | teens and young adults

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | teens and young adults

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | teens and young adults

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | adults

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | adults

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | adults

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | older adults

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | older adults

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | older adults

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | immuno-compromised persons

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | immuno-compromised persons

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | immuno-compromised persons

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | healthcare professionals

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | healthcare professionals

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | healthcare professionals

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Social Media Images | Don’t let the flu get you down this season (in Spanish)

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | pregnancy

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | pregnancy

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | pregnancy

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | children

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | children

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | children

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | teens and young adults

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | teens and young adults

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | teens and young adults

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | adults

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | adults

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | adults

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | older adults

^{(image for Twitter/X – .png: 1.3 MB)}

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | older adults

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | older adults

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | immuno-compromised persons

^{(image for Twitter/X – .png: 1.2 MB)}

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | immuno-compromised persons

^{(image for Facebook – .png: 684 KB)}

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | immuno-compromised persons

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | healthcare professionals

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | healthcare professionals

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Don’t let the flu get you down this season | healthcare professionals

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Social Media Images | One visit. Two shots

One Visit. Two Shots. Protected | Co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

^{(image for Twitter 1 – .png: 1.2 MB)}

One Visit. Two Shots. Protected | Co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

^{(image for Facebook 1 – .png: 753 KB)}

One Visit. Two Shots. Protected | Co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

^{(image for Instagram 1 – .png: 1.2 MB)}

One Visit. Two Shots. Protected | Co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

^{(image for Twitter 2 – .png: 1.2 MB)}

One Visit. Two Shots. Protected | Co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

^{(image for Facebook 2 – .png: 603 KB)}

One Visit. Two Shots. Protected | Co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

^{(image for Instagram 2 – .png: 1.4 MB)}

One Visit. Two Shots. Protected | Co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

^{(image for Twitter 3 – .png: 1.5 MB)}

One Visit. Two Shots. Protected | Co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

^{(image for Facebook 3 – .png: 875 KB)}

One Visit. Two Shots. Protected | Co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

^{(image for Instagram 3 – .png: 1.2 MB)}

One Visit. Two Shots. Protected | Co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

^{(image for Twitter 4 – .png: 1.1 MB)}

One Visit. Two Shots. Protected | Co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

^{(image for Facebook 4 – .png: 613 KB)}

One Visit. Two Shots. Protected | Co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

^{(image for Instagram 4 – .png: 1.2 MB)}

Myth-busting Mondays

Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Myth-busting Monday

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Throwback Thursdays

Throwback Thursday 1

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Throwback Thursday 1

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Throwback Thursday 1

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Throwback Thursday 2

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Throwback Thursday 2

^{(image for Facebook 2 – .jpg: 89 KB)}

Throwback Thursday 2

^{(image for Instagram 2 – .jpg: 133 KB)}

Throwback Thursday 3

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Throwback Thursday 3

^{(image for Facebook 3 – .jpg: 90 KB)}

Throwback Thursday 3

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Throwback Thursday 4

^{(image for Twitter 4 – .jpg: 135 KB)}

Throwback Thursday 4

^{(image for Facebook 4 – .jpg: 89 KB)}

Throwback Thursday 4

^{(image for Instagram 4 – .jpg: 127 KB)}

Throwback Thursday 5

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Throwback Thursday 5

^{(image for Facebook 5 – .jpg: 97 KB)}

Throwback Thursday 5

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Influenza

Check out our resources on influenza immunization and share with your network!

For the Public

Charts 2024-2025

Publicly funded seasonal influenza vaccines in Canada: 2024-2025

Publicly funded influenza vaccination programs in Canada: 2024-2025

Factsheets

Influenza Vaccines in Pregnancy: What You Need to Know

Influenza Vaccine Technologies

Influenza Q & A

Why do we need to get a flu vaccine every year? Answer: drift and shift.

Influenza in the Media. Knowing Your Source of Information.

Infographics

Influenza Prevention in People with Asthma

Influenza Prevention in Adults

Influenza Prevention in Adults 65+

Influenza Prevention in Children

Influenza: The basics

Protecting yourself and those in your care from the flu: What Canadian caregivers need to know.

Podcasts

Podcast: The Interview Dudes speak with Dr. Anne Pham-Huy, Chair, Immunize Canada about the seasonal influenza vaccine

TikTok Videos

Video | Protecting children against influenza (the flu) | By: Dr. Paul Roumeliotis in partnership with Immunize Canada

Video | Protecting adults 65 and older against influenza (the flu) | By: Dr. Paul Roumeliotis in partnership with Immunize Canada

For Healthcare Professionals

Pocket Guide for Immunizers

Pocket Guide for Immunizers: Influenza Immunization 2024-2025

This pocket guide references recent recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI):

NACI Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2024-2025. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). 25 July 2024.

Summary of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization statement on seasonal influenza vaccine for 2024-2025. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). November 2024.

Supplemental guidance on influenza vaccination of adults 65 years of age and older. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). 25 July 2024.

Addendum to the statement on seasonal influenza vaccine for 2024-2025: Transition from quadrivalent to trivalent influenza vaccines. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). 25 July 2024.

Canadian Immunization Guide: Influenza vaccines. Public Health Agency of Canada. Updated 25 July 2024.

Canadian Immunization Guide: Basic immunology and vaccinology. Public Health Agency of Canada. Updated 30 October 2024.

Avian influenza A(H5N1): For health professionals. Public Health Agency of Canada. Updated 20 November 2024.

Video | How to administer the live-attenuated intranasal influenza vaccine (LAIV) | By: Dr. Paul Roumeliotis in partnership with Immunize Canada

NACI Statements

Campaigns and Awareness Materials

Posters | Don’t let the flu get you down this season

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | pregnancy

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | children

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | teens and young adults

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | adults

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | older adults

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | immunocompromised persons

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | health care professionals

Posters | Don’t let the flu get you down this season (in Spanish)

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | pregnancy

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | children

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | teens and young adults

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | adults

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | older adults

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | immunocompromised persons

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | health care professionals

Posters | One visit. Two shots

One Visit. Two Shots. Protected | Co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

One Visit. Two Shots. Protected | Co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

One Visit. Two Shots. Protected | Co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

One Visit. Two Shots. Protected | Co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

One Visit. Two Shots. Protected | Co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

Social Media Images | Don’t let the flu get you down this season

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | pregnancy

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | pregnancy

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | pregnancy

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | children

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | children

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | children

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | teens and young adults

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | teens and young adults

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | teens and young adults

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | adults

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | adults

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | adults

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | older adults

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | older adults

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | older adults

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | immuno-compromised persons

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | immuno-compromised persons

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | immuno-compromised persons

Don’t let the flu get you down this season | healthcare professionals