Most older Canadians can get the RSV vaccine at a local pharmacy this fall, and in many provinces it is free: everyone 75 and older in Ontario, 70 and older in Alberta, and 75 and older across most of Atlantic Canada. One dose is all most people need, and it protects for at least three years.
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is still new territory for a lot of families. The vaccine has only been publicly funded for a few years, and the rules are different in every province, so it is easy to assume you are covered when you are not, or to pay for a shot you could have had free.
This guide covers who should get the RSV vaccine, where it is free, what it costs if you pay yourself, and how to fit it in beside your flu shot this fall.
What is the RSV vaccine for seniors?
The RSV vaccine is a single shot that protects older adults against respiratory syncytial virus, a common virus that can cause serious lung infections in later life. Three vaccines are approved in Canada for everyone 60 and older: Arexvy from GSK, Abrysvo from Pfizer, and mResvia from Moderna, according to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI, 2026).
For most people RSV feels like a cold. In later life it can be much more. Canada does not publish one clean yearly count, but the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) found adults 50 and older were hospitalized with RSV about 1,620 times per respiratory season on average, across 12 seasons of data through 2022-23 (Quebec excluded). Risk climbs sharply with age. Hospitalization rates ran about 10 per 100,000 at ages 60 to 69 and 63 per 100,000 at 80 and older. PHAC says the true numbers are likely higher, because doctors are not required to report RSV.
RSV is one of several health risks that quietly build up for aging Canadians. Serious cases often need hospital care for breathing trouble and complications, which is why a hospital stay so often starts with something that seemed minor, the same way dehydration can escalate into an emergency faster than most families expect.
Who should get the RSV vaccine?
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization strongly recommends the RSV vaccine for everyone aged 75 and older, and for adults 65 to 74 who have certain health conditions, in its updated guidance from April 2026. Adults of any age living in a nursing home or chronic-care facility are also strongly recommended to get it.
The health conditions NACI lists for the 65 to 74 group include chronic heart or lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, or asthma), diabetes, chronic kidney or liver disease, and a weakened immune system. The list overlaps a lot with our guide to heart health concerns after 60. If any of those conditions sound familiar, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether the vaccine is recommended for you.
If you are 60 to 74 and healthy, the vaccine is still approved for you. It just may not be free, so it becomes a conversation with your doctor or pharmacist about whether it is worth paying for.
Is the RSV vaccine free in your province?
Whether you pay depends on your province and your age, not on your doctor. Here is where public funding stands for the 2026-27 season:
| Province | Free RSV vaccine for seniors? |
|---|---|
| Ontario | Everyone 75+, plus specific groups 60-74 (long-term care, retirement homes, dialysis, transplant, First Nations, Inuit, and Metis adults) |
| Alberta | Everyone 70+ in the community; 60+ in continuing care; First Nations, Metis, and Inuit adults 60+ |
| British Columbia | Not publicly funded at any age; private purchase only |
| Saskatchewan | Not publicly funded for older adults |
| Manitoba | Everyone 80+ starting October 1, 2026, plus 60-79 in personal care homes |
| Quebec | Only in specific care settings (CHSLD and certain seniors' residences), not for everyone 75+ |
| New Brunswick | Everyone 75+; Indigenous adults 60+; 60+ in long-term care |
| Nova Scotia | Everyone 75+; 60+ in long-term care or awaiting placement |
| Prince Edward Island | Everyone 75+, plus 60+ in care or with qualifying conditions |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Everyone 75+ as of fall 2026; 60+ in congregate living |
One free dose is the rule everywhere it is funded: if you have already had a publicly funded RSV shot, you do not line up for another.
In most of Canada, whether the RSV shot is free depends on your province and your age, not on your doctor.
Sources: provincial health ministries and public health agencies, verified as of September 2026. Program details can change, so check your province's health page or ask your pharmacist before booking.
Who is eligible for the RSV vaccine in Ontario?
In Ontario, the RSV vaccine is free for everyone 75 and older, whether you live at home or in care, as long as you have not already had a publicly funded dose. It is also free at ages 60 to 74 for specific groups, including people in long-term care, Elder Care Lodges, or retirement homes, people on dialysis, transplant recipients, and First Nations, Inuit, and Metis adults, according to the Ontario Ministry of Health (updated August 2026).
Since July 2026, trained Ontario pharmacists can give the publicly funded RSV vaccine with no prescription needed. Call ahead to confirm your pharmacy has it in stock.
Is the RSV vaccine free in Alberta?
Yes, for many seniors. Alberta funds the RSV vaccine for people 70 and older living in the community, people 60 and older in continuing care or supportive living, and First Nations, Metis, and Inuit adults 60 and older, according to MyHealth Alberta (updated August 2026). Eligible Albertans can book at participating pharmacies, and many take walk-ins.
How much is the RSV vaccine if you pay yourself?
If you do not qualify for a free dose, expect to pay roughly $220 to $310 for one shot at a Canadian pharmacy. A February 2026 price survey by TeleTest found Arexvy at $219.49 at Costco, $264.97 at Walmart, $287.99 at Rexall, and $307.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart. These are retail prices that vary by pharmacy, not a fixed national rate.
Two things soften that number. First, it is a one-time cost, not a yearly one. Second, some private and workplace retiree insurance plans may cover part or all of it, so check your plan before paying cash.
How long does the RSV vaccine last?
One dose of the RSV vaccine protects for at least three years, and NACI does not currently recommend yearly boosters or routine repeat doses. Whether a booster will ever be needed is still being studied, according to NACI's April 2026 guidance.
For most older adults, the RSV shot is one dose, not a yearly vaccine like the flu shot.
Get the RSV vaccine once, and you are done for now.
Where can you get the RSV vaccine?
For most people the answer is the pharmacy down the street. Pharmacists can administer the RSV vaccine in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, and in Ontario and Alberta they can give the free publicly funded dose to eligible seniors. In BC it is a private purchase, since the province does not fund it for adults. Doctors' offices and public health clinics also give it in many regions.
Fitting it into fall vaccine season
Flu season in Canada usually gets going in mid to late November, and vaccination programs generally start in October, before cases climb, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Alberta's general flu program opens October 19, 2026. Ontario and BC had not published exact fall launch dates as of September 1, 2026, so watch your province's announcements or ask your pharmacy in late September.
The convenient part: you can get the RSV vaccine at the same visit as your flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine. The Canadian Immunization Guide allows all three together. The one spacing suggestion NACI makes, when possible, is leaving at least six weeks between the RSV vaccine and non-seasonal shots like the shingles vaccine, mainly so any side effect can be traced to the right vaccine.
Because the RSV shot is not seasonal, you do not have to wait for October. In provinces where the program is already running, like Ontario and Alberta, eligible seniors can book now and have it done before the fall rush.
Frequently asked questions
Is the RSV vaccine covered by OHIP?
Ontario funds the RSV vaccine through its provincial vaccine program rather than as a service billed to OHIP (the Ontario Health Insurance Plan). It is free for everyone 75 and older and for specific higher-risk groups aged 60 to 74. If you do not qualify, you pay out of pocket at the pharmacy, with no reimbursement from the ministry (Ontario Ministry of Health, 2026).
Can you get the RSV vaccine and the flu shot at the same time?
Yes. The Public Health Agency of Canada says the adult RSV vaccine can be given at the same time as, or any time before or after, other vaccines, including the flu shot and the COVID-19 vaccine. Many people book one pharmacy visit in October and take care of everything at once.
When will the RSV vaccine be available in Ontario this fall?
It already is. Ontario pharmacists have been able to give the publicly funded RSV vaccine since July 2026, year-round, with no prescription. Fall flu and COVID campaign start dates had not been announced as of September 1, 2026, but eligible seniors do not need to wait for them to get the RSV shot.
The bottom line
If you are 75 or older in Ontario, Atlantic Canada, or (at 70 and up) Alberta, a free shot is likely waiting for you at the pharmacy, and one visit this fall can cover RSV, flu, and COVID together. Manitoba's program opens October 1 for people 80 and older, while Quebec funds it only in certain care settings, and BC and Saskatchewan do not fund it at all. Wherever you live, a ten-minute call to your pharmacist settles exactly what is covered for you.
While you are thinking ahead to the season, our guide to winter safety for Canadian seniors covers the rest of the cold-weather checklist, from icy walkways to power outages.
