2026‐2027 Seasonal Influenza and COVID‐19 Vaccine Program, and new publicly funded older adult Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine

Dear health care provider,

We are seeking your assistance in protecting our region’s residents during the upcoming respiratory season.

• The provincial 2026/2027 influenza and COVID‐19 immunization campaign will start in mid-October.
• New this year: RSV vaccine is now available for free for adults over 75 and Indigenous adults over 60. The vaccine is offered by select participating pharmacies.

2026-2027 seasonal influenza vaccines

The BCCDC Immunization manual – part four biological products seasonal influenza pages have been updated to reflect available products.

2026-2027 COVID‐19 vaccines

• There will be a new COVID-19 vaccine formulation using the JN.1-lineage XFG variant.
• The BCCDC Immunization manual – Part 4 Biological Products COVID‐19 pages will be updated to reflect the new COVID‐19 vaccine products and eligibility.
• The province requires all administered COVID‐19 vaccines be documented directly into ImmsBC or the provincial eForms system. Onboarding to provincial eForms has been provided by Population and Public Health. If you need information on eForms, contact immunizationlogistics@fraserhealth.ca.

Appointments for influenza and COVID-19 vaccine can be booked starting on October 13, 2026.

Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines will be available at:

• Participating pharmacies by appointment (12 years and over).
• Public Health Units and Public Health clinics in community locations by appointment for children under 12 years of age and one additional family member with each booked appointment.
• On‐site vaccination for long-term care, assisted living and some independent living residents.
• Physician and Nurse Practitioner offices. We encourage physicians and nurse practitioners to offer COVID‐19 vaccines as well as influenza vaccines to their patients.

Publicly-funded RSV vaccine

• This fall, RSV vaccine (mResvia) is recommended and free for adults age 75 and older and Indigenous adults age 60 and older.
• RSV vaccine is recommended but not free for other people at high risk of severe disease. People can purchase RSV protein subunit vaccines (Abrysvo and Arexvy) through pharmacies.
• The vaccine is given as one dose. It is not an annual vaccine. If someone has received the vaccine before, they do not need to get it again.
• The BCCDC Immunization manual – part four biological products RSV pages outline the vaccine products and eligibility. A health care provider Q&A is available on the BC Centre for Disease Control website.

RSV vaccines for older adults will be available starting Sept. 29 at:

• Participating pharmacies by appointment (visit fraserhealth.ca/rsv for more information).
• On-site vaccination for long-term care, assisted living and some independent living residents.

Co‐administration of respiratory virus vaccines is recommended if products are available at the appointment time. Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at high-risk of serious illness.

Please carefully review the ordering and storage and handling details below.

COVID-19 and influenza vaccine ordering

Ordering will be available in early October on the online vaccine order request form.

Vaccine temperature monitoring

• The Vaccine Refrigerator Temperature form has been updated, please use the new form.
• Reminder to document to one decimal place (e.g. 4.5°C).
• Vaccines should be always kept at 2‐8°C, factoring in thermometer accuracy range. See this quick reference on storage and handling.

Vaccine management clinical checklist

• Vaccine management clinical checklist for CVPs
• Can be used for the initial set up and as an annual check to prevent cold chain incidents.

Additional resources

• All vaccine related content can be found on the Fraser Health Authority Immunization Resources for CVPs website.
• BCCDC vaccine storage and handling course located on the Learning Hub - Course Code # 19652.

Questions?

• If you have questions, please call your local public health unit.