Health Professionals Update – Vol. 19, No. 26
From:
Dr. Nicholas Brandon, MD, MA, MSc, CCFP, FRCPC
Associate Medical Officer of Health
In this issue
2026/27 Influenza and COVID-19 fall-winter campaign
Key messages
- Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines are now available to order.
- Information on RSV immunization product ordering will be shared when available
- Co-administration of COVID-19, influenza vaccine, and RSV for eligible individuals is strongly encouraged.
- Administration to the general population is to begin October 26.
- Physician-led clinics can onboard to administer COVID-19 vaccines.
2026/27 Influenza and COVID-19 vaccine programs
Health care providers can now order influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. Due to order volumes, processing may take approximately 3 to 4 weeks. Your patience is appreciated.
To support timely distribution, respiratory vaccine orders will be fulfilled through free delivery only. Pickup options are not available until further notice.
To ensure all health care providers have access to respiratory vaccines and to maintain product availability throughout the season, order limits are in place. Please order only the quantity that can be safely accommodated within your vaccine storage capacity.
If you would like to begin administering COVID-19 vaccines in your office and did not administer in the previous respiratory season, email vaccinemanagement@peelregion.ca
Co-administration of COVID-19, influenza, and RSV for eligible individuals is strongly encouraged.
Priority populations
Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines should be offered to high risk and priority populations as soon as the vaccine is available. This includes:
- Staff, residents and care providers in congregate living settings (e.g. chronic care facilities, long-term care homes, retirement homes)
- Health care workers and first responders
- Adults 65 years and older
- Pregnant individuals
- Children 6 months to 4 years
- Individuals in or from First Nations, Métis or Inuit communities and eligible non-Indigenous household members
- Members of underserved communities
- Individuals whose occupational or recreational activities increase their risk of exposure to avian influenza A viruses
- Individuals 6 months of age and older with complex health needs or certain high-risk medical conditions
Administration to the general population is to begin October 26.
For a detailed breakdown of priority populations refer to Universal influenza immunization program (UIIP) and COVID-19 vaccine program
Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP)
For the 2026/27 influenza season in Ontario, only trivalent formulations (TIV) will be used.
Influenza product eligibility by age group
- 6 months and older: Fluviral, Fluzone and Flucelvax (TIVs)
- 65 years and older: Fluzone High-Dose (TIV-HD) and Fluad - adjuvanted (TIV-Adj)
Product selection for adults 65 years and older
The TIV-HD and TIV-adj vaccines should be offered, when available, over TIV-standard dose (SD) influenza vaccines for adults 65 years and older. However, the TIV-SD, TIV-HD and TIV-adj all provide effective protection against influenza. Do not delay vaccination to wait for a particular influenza product.
For additional information and fact sheets: Universal Influenza Immunization Program
COVID-19 vaccine program
The XFG variant COVID-19 vaccines distributed this season provide stronger protection against current subvariants.
- 6 months and older: Moderna Spikevax
- 12 years and older: Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty
Nuvaxovid, the protein subunit (non-mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine will be available in Ontario for the 2026/27 COVID-19 vaccine program.
- 12 years and older: Sanofi Nuvaxovid
Not all vaccines brands or format will be available at all times or at all locations. All publicly funded COVID-19 vaccines are equivalent and provide the same protection against COVID-19 disease.
Spring 2027 dose
Specific high-risk populations listed should receive an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the spring:
- Adults 80 years and older
- Residents in long-term care homes 18 years and older
- Residents in congregate living settings aged 65 years and older
- Adults 65 to 79 years with underlying medical conditions
- Individuals 6 months and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised
- First Nations, Inuit, Métis adults 55 years and older, and their non-Indigenous household members 55 years and over
For additional information and fact sheets: COVID‑19 vaccine program.
Information related to the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) prevention program will be shared soon.
Contact us
The Health Professionals Update (HPU) is distributed to physician offices in Peel region via fax or email. Share this update with other health professionals in your clinic.
More information
- Review past HPUs
- Subscribe to HPU emails
- For questions about this update, email healthprofessionals@peelregion.ca