Flu vaccination: Outaouais residents urged to prepare for the winter season
Drazen Seslija
As winter knocks on our doors and flu season approaches in Quebec, the annual flu shot remains an important way to reduce the risk of complications. Outaouais residents can visit local pharmacies and vaccination sites to get their vaccine.
In Quebec, eligible individuals can receive the vaccine for free, while others can contact a pharmacy or medical clinic for information on costs and vaccination procedures.
Outaouais residents can schedule an appointment starting October 13 to receive vaccines against the flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are free for people aged 65 and older, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals. The RSV vaccine is offered free of charge to people aged 75 and older. Appointments can be made online at Clic Santé or by phone at 819776-2920 or 1-844-776-6116, toll-free. For more details on the campaign, visit https://bit.ly/VacciVirus.
People eligible for free vaccination:
- People aged 65 and older.
- People aged 6 months and older who are immunocompromised, on dialysis, or living with a chronic illness.
- Pregnant women who are immunocompromised, on dialysis, or living with a chronic illness, and all pregnant women in their second and third trimesters.
- Residents of any age in long-term care facilities (CHSLD), residential care facilities for seniors (RI-SAPA), and retirement homes (RPA), or living in other group settings with a high proportion of older and vulnerable individuals.
- Healthcare workers who could transmit the flu to people at high risk of complications.
- People living in the same household as those in high-risk groups for complications and those who care for them at home (informal caregivers).
- Travelers who are immunocompromised, on dialysis, or living with a chronic illness and who will be traveling to a region where influenza viruses are circulating.
Where can you get vaccinated in the Outaouais?
Residents can visit the Clic Santé platform to check availability and schedule an appointment based on their preferred location. Vaccinations are also available at certain community pharmacies. Residents should also check the services offered and available appointment times before traveling.
Locations of local service points (PSL) by region, according to the Clic Santé platform:
- Gatineau PSL: 80 avenue Gatineau (Gatineau).
- Hull PSL: 105–107 rue Crémazie (Hull).
- Aylmer PSL: CLSC LeGuerrier, 425 rue Leguerrier (Aylmer).
- Vallée-de-la-Lièvre PSL: 110 rue Georges (Buckingham), Door 18.
- Petite Nation PSL: 14 rue St-André (Saint-André-Avelin).
- Des Collines PSL:
Cantley CLSC, 850 Montée de la Source (Cantley).
Chelsea CLSC, 490 route 105 (Chelsea).
Val-des-Monts CLSC, 1884 route Carr (Val-des-Monts).
Masham CLSC, 9 chemin Passe-Partout (Sainte-Cécile-de-Masham).
- Maniwaki PSL: 14 rue Comeau (Maniwaki), Door C (New location effective August 31: 177 rue des Oblats).
- Pontiac PSL: 290 rue Marion (Shawville).
The primary goal of vaccination is to reduce complications, hospitalizations, and deaths associated with the flu. Protection generally develops within two weeks of receiving the vaccine and does not prevent all respiratory infections.
Can Australia indicate how severe the upcoming flu season will be in Quebec?
Flu activity observed in Australia—where winter occurs during the northern hemisphere’s summer—provides useful information to public health authorities. However, a particularly active flu season in Australia does not necessarily mean that Canada, including Quebec, will experience a similar situation a few months later.
According to the Government of Quebec, the World Health Organization relies on international surveillance of influenza viruses to recommend the composition of seasonal vaccines. For 2026–2027, the vaccine used in the northern hemisphere includes components targeting the A(H1N1), A(H3N2), and B/Victoria viruses. This formulation takes into account the viruses likely to circulate in the coming months.
However, the evolution and circulation of viruses remain difficult to predict. The Australian data serve as a surveillance indicator but are not a definitive prediction of the Quebec flu season.
Health authorities strongly recommend vaccination for people at increased risk of complications and for those who come into contact with vulnerable individuals. Residents can visit Québec.ca and Clic Santé to learn about eligibility criteria and appointment procedures for the current campaign, among other information.
