Dates to confirm. Ontario publishes the exact start dates for its fall vaccine program each September. The timing below reflects how the province has run the program in recent years. We will update this page as soon as the 2026 dates are confirmed, and you can always call us at (905) 215-1815 to ask whether your vaccine is available yet.
The short version
- Ontario's free fall vaccine program usually opens to high risk groups in late September and to everyone else in late October.
- Everyone six months and older should get a flu shot every year. It is free in Ontario, and an enhanced version is available for adults 65 and older.
- The updated COVID-19 vaccine is recommended each fall, and you can get it in the same visit as your flu shot.
- RSV immunization is publicly funded for babies entering their first RSV season, for adults 75 and older, and for some adults 60 and older at higher risk.
- Children under two need their flu shot from a doctor or public health clinic, not a pharmacy. We see them.
- Fall is also the time to catch children up on the routine vaccines Ontario schools require.
Respiratory virus season in Ontario runs roughly from October to April, and it arrives on schedule whether or not we are ready for it. Three vaccines do most of the work of keeping families out of the emergency department over the winter: the flu shot, the updated COVID-19 vaccine, and, for the youngest and oldest among us, RSV.
This guide covers who should get each one, when the province makes them available, and where to get them in Oshawa. If you only read one line, read this: book one visit for the whole family in late October, and bring your health cards.
When fall vaccines start in Ontario
Ontario rolls its fall program out in two waves. In the first wave, usually the last week of September, the updated COVID-19 vaccine and the flu shot become available to people at higher risk of severe illness: adults 65 and older, residents of long term care and retirement homes, pregnant people, children under five, people with chronic conditions or weakened immune systems, Indigenous people and their household members, and health care workers. In the second wave, usually the last week of October, both vaccines open to everyone six months and older.
The timing is deliberate. Protection takes about two weeks to build and is strongest in the first few months, and flu in Ontario typically peaks between December and February. A shot in late October or November covers the peak. If you miss that window, get vaccinated anyway. The season runs into spring.
The flu shot
Influenza is not a bad cold. Every winter it sends thousands of Ontarians to hospital, most of them very young, over 65, pregnant, or living with a condition like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease. The vaccine is updated every year to match the strains expected to circulate, which is why last year's shot does not count.
Who should get it. Everyone six months and older, every year. It matters most for the high risk groups above, and for anyone who lives with or cares for them, including parents of babies too young to be vaccinated.
A few details worth knowing. Adults 65 and older can ask for the enhanced flu vaccine that Ontario funds for seniors, which produces a stronger immune response. Children between six months and eight years who have never had a flu shot before need two doses about four weeks apart, so it pays to start early. And an egg allergy is no longer a reason to skip the flu shot; it can be given safely.
The updated COVID-19 vaccine
COVID-19 has settled into a pattern that looks a lot like flu: it circulates all year and surges in the fall and winter. Ontario now offers an updated vaccine each autumn, matched to the variants currently spreading, and recommends it for everyone six months and older, with the strongest recommendation for the same high risk groups as flu. Only people in those high risk groups are offered an additional spring dose, so the fall dose is the one most families should plan around.
You can get the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu shot on the same day, one in each arm. It is safe, it is what public health recommends, and it saves you a second trip.
RSV for infants and older adults
Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a cold for most people and a serious illness for two groups: babies in their first year, for whom it is the leading cause of hospitalization in Canada, and adults over 75 or with certain health conditions. Ontario funds RSV protection for both.
- Babies. Infants entering their first RSV season can receive a single injection of a long acting antibody that protects them through the winter. It is given by a doctor, a hospital before discharge, or a public health clinic. Alternatively, a vaccine given to the mother between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy passes protection to the baby.
- Older adults. Adults 75 and older qualify for a publicly funded RSV vaccine, as do adults 60 to 74 who live in long term care, retirement homes or chronic care, or who have certain conditions such as organ transplant or dialysis. Unlike the flu shot, the RSV vaccine is not repeated every year. One dose provides protection for at least two seasons.
If you are not sure whether you or your parent qualifies, ask at your visit. Eligibility has expanded in recent years and may change again this fall.
Where to get vaccinated in Oshawa
Three options, all free with a health card. Choose the one that fits your family.
Scroll sideways to see the full table.
| Where | Who | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Simcoe Medical Clinic, walk-in or booked visit | All ages, including babies from six months | Whole families in one visit. Flu, COVID-19 and RSV where eligible. Arabic spoken. Free parking at 115 Simcoe St. South. |
| Your family doctor | All ages | The best option if you also need a medication review or a chronic disease check in. |
| Oshawa People Pharmacy, inside our clinic | Flu shot for ages two and up, COVID-19 for most ages, and many routine adult vaccines | No appointment. Ontario pharmacies cannot vaccinate children under two. |
| Durham Region Health Department clinics | Varies by clinic, with a focus on children and people without a family doctor | Check durham.ca for dates and locations. Also the place to report your child's school immunization records. |
Children and back to school
September puts vaccines on every parent's mind for a second reason. Ontario schools require a record on file with the local public health unit showing that each student is vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease and whooping cough, plus chickenpox for children born in 2010 or later. Durham Region Health Department reviews these records and sends notices to families with gaps, which can lead to suspension if not resolved.
If your child is missing a dose, or if you arrived from another country and are not sure how the records line up, book a visit. Our physicians can compare your child's record to the Ontario schedule, give any catch up doses, and add the flu shot at the same time. Newcomer families can also read our newcomer's guide to health care in Ontario, which explains how to report records to public health.
Your fall check-in if you live with a chronic condition
If you have diabetes, asthma or COPD, heart or kidney disease, or a weakened immune system, or if you are 65 or older, fall vaccines are part of a larger routine. Use the same visit to review your medications, check your blood pressure and blood sugar, and make sure any screening that is due gets booked. A single flu infection can undo months of good control in these conditions, and a thirty minute appointment in October is far easier than a week in hospital in January. Our doctors provide ongoing chronic disease care and are happy to combine it with your vaccines.
What to expect afterwards
Most people have a sore arm for a day or two. Some feel tired, achy or have a low fever for a day, particularly after the COVID-19 vaccine. These are signs of the immune system doing its job, and they pass. A cool cloth on the arm and moving the arm normally both help. You cannot catch the flu from the flu shot; the vaccine does not contain live virus.
Serious reactions are very rare, which is why you are asked to stay for fifteen minutes after your shot. Call us if a reaction seems severe or lasts more than a few days, and call 911 for any trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or a fast spreading rash.
Booking your family's vaccines at Simcoe Medical Clinic
You can walk in during clinic hours or book online, choosing a male or female physician. If you are bringing several family members, booking lets us set aside enough time and avoid separate waits. Bring everyone's health card, wear short sleeves, and let us know if a child is getting their first ever flu shot so we can schedule the second dose. We are open Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Arabic is spoken at the clinic.
Common questions
Yes. Both can be given at the same visit, one in each arm, and this is what public health recommends. RSV immunization can also be given at the same time for people who qualify.
No. You can walk in during clinic hours. Booking online reduces your wait and lets us group a family's shots into one visit.
The vaccine itself is publicly funded for everyone six months and older who lives, works or attends school in Ontario. If you do not yet have a health card, call us first at (905) 215-1815 and we will explain your options.
No. Flu circulates in Ontario from late fall into spring, so a shot in January still protects you for the rest of the season. Late October or November is ideal because protection takes about two weeks to build and lasts through the winter peak.
At our clinic, with your family doctor, or at a public health clinic. Pharmacies in Ontario can only vaccinate children who are two and older. Babies must be at least six months old, and children under nine getting the flu shot for the first time need two doses about four weeks apart.
The flu shot and the updated COVID-19 vaccine are both recommended during pregnancy and protect your baby in the first months of life. An RSV vaccine given between 32 and 36 weeks is one option for protecting your newborn; the other is an RSV antibody given to the baby after birth. Talk to your doctor about which suits your due date.
Yes. Ontario provides an enhanced flu vaccine for adults 65 and older that produces a stronger immune response. Ask for it when you book. Adults 65 and older are also encouraged to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine, and those 75 and older qualify for a one time RSV vaccine.
This article is general information for Ontario residents and does not replace medical advice. Eligibility rules, funded programs and start dates can change, and not every location offers every service. Confirm current details at ontario.ca or by calling Health811 at 811. For medical emergencies, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department.