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The provincially funded Fall 2026-27 Influenza Immunization Program for the general public will officially begin on October 19, 2026.

Please refer to the following resources for more information. We will share more information on this page about the 2026-27 immunization season as it becomes available.

What’s new for 2026-27

Primary and Preventative Health Services is seeking to broaden timely access to vaccines. This fall, community pharmacies will once again be able to order and administer provincially funded COVID-19 vaccines to eligible Albertans 12 years and older.

More details on eligibility, vaccine allocations and product information for a targeted COVID-19 program will be shared in an upcoming Alberta Blue Cross Benefact.

Policy and immunization program guidance

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.

Program updates and pharmacy operations

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

  • Alberta Blue Cross Benefact #1326 includes information regarding the Fall influenza immunization program for 2026–2027.
  • Alberta Blue Cross Benefact #1323 includes information regarding the transition to real-time integration (RTI) and discontinuation of immunization data upload to Netcare via Alberta Blue Cross claim submission.

Immunization reporting

Effective July 1, 2026, all immunizations must be reported to Alberta Netcare through an Imm-ARI real-time integration (RTI)-compliant pharmacy management system.

Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are responsible for ensuring that immunization records submitted to Alberta Netcare are complete, accurate, and submitted only once through the appropriate reporting method. Appropriate processes should be in place to verify successful submission and to identify and correct any discrepancies or errors.

Note: Pharmacies that are in the process of completing RTI onboarding must use the manual Immunization Direct Submission Mechanism (IDSM) until RTI implementation is complete. Once RTI reporting is active, immunizations must not be submitted through IDSM, as duplicate submissions may result. IDSM can be accessed at the Alberta Netcare Learning Centre.

Clinical resources

Alberta Health Services (AHS) 

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.

Federal public health and immunization guidance

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), in partnership with the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID), will share updates on respiratory viruses for the 2026-27 season and present National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) guidance for these respiratory viruses. More information about these resources will be shared as it becomes available.  

Immunization Q and A

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 2026-27.