Vaccine distribution is expected to start on October 13, 2020.
Please review the information below about vaccine eligibility, products available, and intended use by age group. We will send your vaccine order form next week. In addition, we will be hosting two live question and answer sessions with Medical Health Officer Dr. Aamir Bharmal and the Public Health team.
Vaccine eligibility
Eligibility criteria for publicly-funded flu vaccine remain the same as last year:
- People at high risk of serious illness from influenza
- People capable of transmitting influenza to those at high-risk including visitors to health care facilities
- People who provide essential community services (e.g., first responders, corrections workers)
The full eligibility list is available in the BCCDC CD Immunization Manual – Part 4.
Vaccine products available in 2020/21
Available vaccines |
Quadrivalent Vaccines (preferred for children) |
Trivalent Vaccines (general population) |
Trivalent Vaccines (for those 65 years and older) |
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Flumist |
Flulaval Tetra |
Agriflu |
Fluviral |
Fluad |
Fluzone HD |
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Intended population |
2 years* to 17 years |
6 months* to 17 years |
18 years and older |
18 years and older |
65 years and older |
Only residents in long-term care and assisted living ≥65years |
*Infants and children 6 months to 8 years receiving their first ever flu vaccine should receive 2 doses spaced 4 weeks apart. |
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Flulaval Tetra, Agriflu, and Fluviral can be used for everyone 6 months and older. |
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Dosage and route |
0.2mL (0.1mL each nostril), intranasal |
0.5mL IM |
0.5mL IM |
0.5mL IM |
0.5mL IM |
0.5mL IM |
Format and handling(All vaccines should be stored between +2 and +8°C and protected from light) |
Pre-filled intranasal spray; single dose |
Multi-dose vial. Initial and date vial on first use. Product expires 28 days after this date. |
Pre-filled syringe; single dose |
Multi-dose vial. Initial and date vial on first use. Product expires 28 days after this date |
Pre-filled syringe; single dose |
Pre-filled syringe; single dose |
Strains contained |
A/Guangdong-Maonan/SWL1536/2019 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus; A/HonKong/2671/2019 (H3N2)-like virus; B/Washington/02/2019-like virus; B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus (in quadrivalent vaccines only). |
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For more details go to the BCCDC Communicable Disease Control Manual, Chapter 2 -Immunization, Part 4; Biological Products, Influenza Vaccines.
Changes for the 2020/21 season
- FluMist®: Pharmacare will be funding pharmacist administration of publicly funded FluMist® vaccine for the 2020-2021 season. Pharmacists may request FluMist®. Please note Fraser Health is not receiving a large stock of Flumist this year so you may not receive your full request.
- Fluzone® High-Dose: Fluzone® High-Dose is publicly funded (free) for those living in Long Term Care and Assisted Living facilities. Public Health will provide the vaccine product directly to Long Term Care facilities – you do not have to order it. Community Vaccine Providers may order vaccine for Assisted Living facilities or for clients who live in Assisted Living. Please contact the facility to determine whether to order it. Fluzone® High-Dose is also available to buy from some pharmacies and travel clinics for those 65 years and older not living in facilities – this is not part of the vaccine supply distributed through public health and pharmacies/travel clinics/GPs need to procure their own product for private pay use.
- Community mass clinics: We have sent a communication to Divisions of Family Practice about organizing mass immunization clinics in their communities. We encourage all community vaccine providers to support such clinics, making vaccination more accessible for our population. If you are planning community clinics, please indicate the date and projected number of vaccinations when you order vaccine. Based on the schedule that we are set to receive vaccines from the province, we suggest that mass clinics be offered after October 20 for adults and children, and after October 30 for ages 65+.
Q&A with our Medical Health Officer
We know many of you may have questions for Public Health about this flu season. Two live questions and answer sessions with the Public Health team are available on Wednesday, September 30, 2020, or Friday, October 2, 2020, from 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Sign-in details will be provided next week.