Seasonal immunization information

The provincially funded Fall 2025-26 Immunization Program will officially begin on October 20, 2025.

Please refer to the following resources for more information.

Primary and Preventative Health Services (previously part of Alberta Health)

The Alberta Immunization Policy (AIP) outlines the policies for providing publicly funded immunizations in Alberta. Information provided by Primary and Preventative Health Services includes the following:

• an overview of the AIP, including the Canadian Immunization Guide, Alberta’s routine immunization schedule, and immunization policy changes;
• information about this season’s influenza vaccines;
• cold chain storage and handling;
• adverse events reporting; and
• contact information for Primary and Preventative Health Services.

Respiratory virus dashboard

The COVID-19, influenza, and RSV dashboard includes data on cases, positivity, hospital and ICU admissions, and deaths. The dashboard is updated regularly.

Primary Care Alberta (formerly Alberta Health Services)

The Influenza Immunization Information for Health Professionals webpage includes the following important information for community providers implementing a safe and effective influenza immunization program:

• AHS zone contact information;
• an influenza/pneumococcal immunization orientation webinar;
• AHS Standard for Influenza Immunization;
• influenza vaccine biological pages, product monographs, and information sheets;
• information about consent for influenza immunization;
• information for patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a newborn;
• directions for use of influenza immunization vaccine record; and
• vaccine storage and handling.

Alberta Blue Cross

All other immunization program information specific to pharmacists and pharmacies will be communicated in the Alberta Blue Cross Benefacts.

• Alberta Blue Cross Benefact #1300 includes the following information for pharmacy teams:
  • the Alberta Immunization Outreach Program for COVID-19 and influenza for senior congregate care settings, and
  • influenza vaccine information for 2025-26.
• Alberta Blue Cross Benefact #1287 contains important information regarding clarification on immunization submissions to Netcare and PINs.
• Alberta Blue Cross Benefact #1283 includes information regarding Real-Time Integration (RTI) needed for Alberta pharmacies by July 1, 2026.
• Alberta Blue Cross Benefact #1282 includes information regarding the Fall 2025–2026 COVID-19 Immunization Program.
• Alberta Blue Cross Benefact #1277 includes information about reporting of privately purchased COVID-19 vaccines provided from community pharmacies.
• Alberta Blue Cross Benefact #1270 includes information about pre-ordering influenza vaccines in the Alberta Vaccine Ordering System.
• Alberta Blue Cross Benefact #1268 includes information about the eligibility criteria and policy changes for the provincially funded Pneumococcal 20-valent Conjugate (Pneu-C20) Vaccine immunization program.
• Alberta Blue Cross Benefact #1266 includes information about the provincially funded Fall 2025-26 Immunization Program and vaccine allocation.

Reporting of immunization records

It is important that pharmacy teams upload immunization records into the Electronic Health Record (Netcare) in a timely fashion.

Pharmacy teams are advised to review their submissions and verify that all records appear in Netcare. If any records are missing, pharmacy teams should submit them using the correct product identification numbers (PINs) to ensure completeness.

All immunizations must be reported to Alberta’s provincial immunization repository (ImmARI) per the Immunization Regulation. 

• For publicly funded vaccines, it is important that immunization information submitted through Alberta Blue Cross is linked to the appropriate PIN to ensure accuracy of the data. See Benefact 1287 for further details.
• For privately purchased vaccines, immunization information must be submitted using the Netcare Immunization Direct Submission Mechanism (IDSM) or another approved direct submission mechanism.

Health Canada

In the following webinar, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) in partnership with the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID), will share updates on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), seasonal influenza, and avian influenza, and present National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) guidance for these respiratory viruses.  

At the end of this webinar, health providers will be able to

1. Understand the epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), seasonal influenza and avian influenza. 

2. Describe available immunization products and current National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) guidance to help prevent disease caused by these respiratory viruses. 

3. Find resources related to these respiratory illnesses and COVID-19, including NACI statements and the Canadian Immunization Guide (CIG). 

Event Information:  

A recording of the English webinar is available on the NCCID website. 

Moderator: Dr. Claudyne Chevrier, PhD, Senior Research Associate, Institute for Global Public Health, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba. 

Speakers:  

1. Dr Elissa Abrams, MD, FRCPC, MPH, Senior Medical Advisor, NACI Secretariat, PHAC. 

2. Dr. Winnie Siu, MD, MSc, CCFP, FRCPC, Senior Medical Advisor, NACI Secretariat, PHAC. 

The French presentation is available here. 

Immunization Q and A

What is the role of pharmacists with COVID-19 immunizations?

As per direction from Primary and Preventative Health Services, pharmacists will not be participating in the provision of publicly funded COVID-19 immunizations from community pharmacies to the general public. As indicated in Alberta Blue Cross Benefact #1300, pharmacists may provide COVID-19 immunizations as part of the Alberta Immunization Outreach Program for COVID-19 and influenza for senior congregate care settings.

COVID-19 vaccines are being rolled out through AHS public health clinics in phases, beginning with those at highest risk and later expanding to all Albertans depending on vaccine availability. Visit the AHS website for details on eligibility, timing, and booking.

Pharmacists may also provide a private COVID-19 immunization; however, patients should first be informed if they qualify for a publicly funded vaccine. As with all private immunizations, these must be reported to Primary and Preventative Health Services (see Alberta Blue Cross Benefact #1277).

Please be aware that all COVID-19 vaccines are Schedule 2 regardless of whether they are publicly or privately funded.

What if I’m not participating in the program?

Even if you don’t administer vaccine, you can still play a key role in immunizations as educators and facilitators. You can provide your patients with accurate information regarding influenza and COVID-19 immunizations, including referral to a community provider, particularly for those patients in high-risk groups. You can find more information on the AHS website.

Can pharmacists administer influenza vaccine outside of a pharmacy?

Yes, contact the site directly to coordinate any offsite influenza services you are planning to provide.

Can pharmacists administer influenza vaccine to children between the ages of two and four years?

Currently, under direction from Primary and Preventative Health Services, pharmacists are not enabled to administer publicly funded vaccines to children two to four years old as part of the Fall Immunization Program for 2025-26.