FREE FLU VACCINE ELIGIBILITY

the inactivated influenza vaccine ('flu shot') is provided free to the following groups of people IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

People at high risk of serious illness from influenza, such as:
Children 6 months to less than 5 years of age
Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy during the influenza season
Seniors 65 years and older
Residents of any age living in residential care, assisted living or other group facilities
Indigenous people
Children and teenagers required to take Aspirin® or ASA for long periods of time due to a medical condition
Children and adults with certain medical conditions, including:
- Heart or lung disorders that require regular medical care, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cystic fibrosis
- Kidney disease, chronic liver disease such as hepatitis, diabetes, cancer, anemia or weakened immune system
- Those with health conditions causing difficulty breathing, swallowing or a risk of choking on food or fluids, such as people with severe brain damage, spinal cord injury, seizures or neuromuscular disorders
Those who are very obese

People able to transmit or spread influenza to those at high risk of serious illness from influenza including:
Household contacts of people at high risk
Household contacts, caregivers and daycare staff of children under 5 years of age
Doctors, nurses and others working in health care settings, including long-term care facilities, who have contact with patients
Visitors to health care facilities and other patient care locations
Inmates of provincial correctional institutions
Those who provide care or service to people at high risk in potential outbreak settings such as cruise ships

Other groups who are eligible to receive the flu shot for free include:
People who provide essential community services such as police officers, firefighters, ambulance attendants, and corrections workers
People who work with live poultry

further information about the flu vaccine can be found on the healthlink bc website here