Percent of Canadians receiving the flu shot in the past year 2015-2023

In 2023, around 39 percent of Canadians reported receiving an influenza immunization in the past year. The year 2020 saw the highest share of Canadians receiving an influenza immunization in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic and the increased awareness of health and virus transmission that it brought may have motivated more people in Canada to receive a flu vaccination in 2020 than in recent years. 

Flu vaccinations in Canada

The Canadian government recommends that everyone six months and older should get a yearly flu vaccination. The vaccine is safe and effective and is easily accessible in Canada. However, although the flu vaccination is the best defense against catching and spreading the flu, many Canadians still choose not to receive the vaccination. For example, a survey from 2020, found that only around 48 percent of Canadians stated they planned to get an influenza vaccination that year. The same survey also asked U.S. adults about their plans to receive an influenza vaccination that year, with around 53 percent stating they planned on getting one.

Deaths from influenza

Although influenza may seem like a relatively harmless virus to many, influenza and pneumonia are in fact the 10th leading cause of death in Canada. Older adults and those with preexisting health conditions such as cancer and heart disease are some of the groups most at risk of dying from influenza and pneumonia. In 2021, the death rate for influenza and pneumonia in Canada was about 10.8 per 100,000 population, a decrease from recent years. It is important to remember that when receiving an influenza vaccination, one is not only protecting oneself, but also helping to minimize the chances of other people catching the virus.