Home/COVID-19/COVID-19 in B.C./Get your COVID-19 and flu immunizations

More topics

Get your COVID-19 and flu immunizations

Publication date: October 7, 2024

Help protect yourself and your community this respiratory illness season by getting your updated flu and COVID-19 immunizations.

English | 繁體中文 | 简体中文 | Français | ਪੰਜਾਬੀ | فارسی | Tagalog | 한국어 | Español | عربى | Tiếng Việt | 日本語 | हिंदी | Українська | Русский

On this page

Get your flu and COVID-19 immunizations at the same time

Getting immunized is the most effective way to stay safe this respiratory illness season.

Updated flu and COVID-19 immunizations that offer better protection against the latest virus strains are available in B.C. starting in October 2024.

Everyone 6 months or older can get free updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time. National Advisory Committee on Immunizations guidance recommends that those at high risk of infection and severe disease get updated immunizations. This also includes individuals in or from First Nations communities and Metis and Inuit people living in B.C.

Starting October 8, notifications with a direct booking link are being sent out, beginning with priority populations and then to everyone else registered in the Get Vaccinated System until early November. This includes:

  • Health care workers
  • People who are clinically extremely vulnerable
  • Seniors (65+)
  • Children (6 months – 17 years)
  • Adults (18-64)

If you've received a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in B.C., you're already registered with the Get Vaccinated system. You only need to register once. We'll send you an email or SMS text when it's time to book your next appointment. 

These vaccines are available at public health units, doctor's or nurse practitioner's offices, and pharmacies throughout the province. People living in First Nations communities can contact their community health centre or nursing station to book an appointment or find out about clinic locations. 

If you have questions about your flu and COVID-19 immunizations, phone the call centre. 

Reschedule or get a new booking link

If needed, you can easily reschedule or cancel your appointment online.

If you can't find your booking link, you can get a new one.

Phone the call centre if you have questions about booking appointments for your family.

If you haven’t received a COVID-19 vaccine in B.C. 

Step 1. Register with the Get Vaccinated system

Register in the Get Vaccinated system to receive your notification to book an appointment and to stay up to date with your flu and COVID-19 immunizations.

You can register yourself or someone else, like a parent, grandparent or child. We will never ask you for your Social Insurance Number, driver's licence number or banking and credit card details.

Fastest option: online 

To register online, you must provide:

  • First and last name
  • Date of birth 
  • Postal code
  • Personal Health Number (PHN)
  • An email address that gets checked regularly or a phone number that can receive text messages

Find your PHN on the back of your B.C. driver's licence, BC Services Card or CareCard. 

Register online It takes 2 minutes.

Other registration and booking options

 

By phone – Pick this option if you don't have a PHN

If you don't have a Personal Health Number (PHN), you need to register by phone. A PHN will be created for you.

Call: 1-833-838-2323 |  7 days a week: 7 am to 7 pm (Monday, November 11: 9 am – 5 pm)  | Translators are available 

Outside Canada and the USA: 1-604-681-4261.

Telephone for people who are deaf or hard of hearing: Dial 711.

Video Relay Services (VRS) provides sign language interpretation free for registered deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired people.

 

At a Service BC office

You can register in-person at all Service BC offices. 

Office hours vary by location. Check before you go. 

Everyone can get immunized, even if you don’t have a PHN or other documentation. It doesn't matter if you are a Canadian citizen.

All of your information will be kept private and will never be shared with other agencies or parts of government. 

Step 2. Book my vaccine appointment

After you register with Get Vaccinated, we will send you a notification. Use the link in your notification to book your vaccine appointment online or by phone.

Understand my COVID-19 vaccine options

Expand All | Collapse All
 

​Vaccines available in B.C.

Health Canada has a thorough approval process to make sure all the vaccines and medicines are safe. Updated mRNA vaccines that offer better protection against the latest COVID-19 variants are available for people 6 months and older. 

If you have an appointment between October 4 and October 14, 2024, your appointment will be rescheduled to guarantee your COVID-19 immunization will be the new formulation.

Find the latest approved vaccines in Canada. 

I want a non-mRNA vaccine

A non-mRNA COVID-19 is currently not available. 

If you are not able to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, speak to your health care provider about other treatment options if you get COVID-19. 

 

Vaccines for children and youth

COVID-19 vaccines are an important part of your child's routine immunization schedule.

Your child can get the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other childhood vaccines, including the influenza (flu) vaccine. If you have multiple children, they each need an appointment.

Plan to be at the appointment with your child for 15 to 30 minutes. 

Give consent at the vaccine appointment

Consent is required for children to get a COVID-19 vaccine. You'll be asked to provide consent at the appointment.

Consent for a child can be provided by a:

  • Parent, legal guardian or foster parent
  • Custodial caregiver like a grandparent or relative

Only one parent, legal guardian or foster parent is required to give consent.

 

I've already had COVID-19

Even if you've already had COVID-19 and recovered, you should still get immunized.

If you were recently sick, you can get the vaccine once your symptoms have passed.

If you have an appointment but you still have symptoms, reschedule for when you will be fully recovered.

 

Other considerations

Most people who are eligible can be safely immunized against COVID-19, although a very small number of people who have severe allergies to parts of the vaccine may need to speak to their health care provider about options.

Visit BC Centre for Disease Control's vaccine considerations page to learn more.

Read more about how to protect yourself, your family and your community from COVID-19 at HealthLink BC.

Protect yourself from the flu

All eligible B.C. residents 6 months and older can get a free flu vaccine in the fall and winter.

What to expect before, during and after my appointment

Review what to prepare for your immunization appointment and learn about post-care guidance.​

Expand All | Collapse All
 

Arrive prepared

Get ready for my appointment:

  • You don't need to fast. Be sure to drink water
  • Bring your booking confirmation and photo ID
  • Wear a short-sleeved shirt
  • Arrive a few minutes before your scheduled appointment time
 

During my appointment

At the pharmacy or clinic you will:

  • Check-in with your photo ID and booking confirmation. For modesty, you can ask for a private location to get your shot
  • Get your vaccine dose
  • Wait in an observation area after your shot for about 15 minutes
 

After my appointment

Review immunization aftercare instructions from HealthLink BC.  

Keep your records up to date

When you get immunized, your information will be entered into the electronic Provincial Immunization Registry. You can access your immunization record online or request a printed copy by phone or at a Service BC office. 

Online: 

Register for Health Gateway to view or update your immunization records and download your proof of vaccination documents.

You need a BC services card to register.

Phone: 

Call 1-833-838-2323 to request a mailed copy of your immunization record. 

In person at a Service BC office: 

You can get a printed copy of your immunization record at all Service BC offices.

Update my immunization record

If your immunization records are missing on Health Gateway, they can be entered into the electronic Provincial Immunization Registry. 

I need help

Expand All | Collapse All
 

I don’t have a PHN

Each B.C. resident enrolled with the Medical Services Plan is given a unique lifetime identifier for health care called a Personal Health Number (PHN). Your PHN and can be found on your BC Services Card.

Look up or create a PHN.

If you’ve entered the correct PHN but experience issues logging in, please contact the call centre at 1-833-838-2323 for assistance.

 

I'm not a resident of B.C.

Non-B.C. residents can phone the provincial call centre 1-833-838-2323 to book an appointment.

 

I want to learn more about COVID-19 in B.C.

Phone the call centre if you have questions about your COVID-19 immunization options and need help booking an appointment. Talk to your health care provider if you have questions about when you should get the vaccine.

Call: 1-833-838-2323 

7 days a week: 7 am to 7 pm (Monday, November 11: 9 am – 5 pm) | Translators are available 

Outside Canada and the USA: 1-604-681-4261

Telephone for people who are deaf or hard of hearing: Dial 711

Video Relay Services (VRS) sign language interpretation is free for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired.