The Globe and Mail
· collected 2026-09-04 · by Ha Tu Thanh, Alanna Smith
Quebec's Health Department has decided not to provide free flu shots for its entire population this fall, a year after stopping free COVID-19 vaccinations. The decision was made based on recommendations from Quebec's immunization committee (CIQ), which suggested harmonizing criteria for flu and COVID-19 vaccination programs. Other provinces, such as Alberta and those contacted by The Globe and Mail, are still maintaining their free flu shot coverage for everyone six months of age and older. Approximately 8% of Alberta's population was vaccinated against COVID-19 last season after the province scaled back its universal coverage.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
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The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.35, but none of the 1 quote(s) it offered could be found in the article text, so the score is not published.
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Quebec will no longer administer free flu shots for its entire population this fall, a year after it stopped providing COVID-19 vaccinations at no cost.
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it → administer → cost
Other provinces, when reached by The Globe and Mail, said they are still maintaining their flu shot coverage, typically offering the vaccine for free to everyone six months of age and older.
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they → reach → age
The Quebec Health Department said its decision relied on the guidance of the province’s immunization committee, an independent advisory panel also known by its French abbreviation, CIQ.
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decision → say → abbreviation
“In recent years, particularly during the pandemic, the decision was made to offer free vaccination to everyone.
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decision → make → everyone
This year marks a change so that the vaccination program reflects the recommendations of the CIQ,” department spokesman Émile Giard said in an e-mail.
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Giard → mark → mail
In an 11-page interim scientific opinion released in April, CIQ recommended that Quebec harmonize the criteria for its flu and COVID-19 vaccination programs.
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Quebec → release → programs
The CIQ opinion noted that the benefits of vaccination against COVID-19 “for healthy people aged 65 to 74 are more limited.”
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benefits → note → people
As a result, it suggested maintaining the previous year’s policy on offering COVID-19 shots for Quebeckers 75 and older, immunocompromised people and those living in remote locations, seniors’ homes and long-term care facilities.
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it → suggest → locations
Marilie Beaulieu-Gravel, a spokeswoman for an association representing pharmacy owners in Quebec, also known by its French acronym AQPP, said it is too early to know how much its members would charge for a flu shot.
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members → represent → shot
Quebec was the second province after Alberta to stop providing free COVID-19 vaccines to its population last year.
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Quebec → stop → population
Alberta limited coverage to specific high-risk and vulnerable populations, in addition to health care workers after union bargaining and widespread pushback.
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Alberta → limit → bargaining
The two provinces scaled back after the federal government decided in January, 2025, to stop funding provinces for the purchase of COVID-19 shots.
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government → scale → shots
Alberta has since defended its approach to COVID-19 coverage as a way to reduce vaccine waste, but has also cited Quebec’s analysis as part of its reasoning.
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Alberta → defend → reasoning
Roughly eight per cent of Alberta’s population was vaccinated against COVID-19 last season.
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cent → vaccinate → COVID-19
The western province has been tight-lipped on its 2026-27 vaccine campaign, but further details are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
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details → expect → weeks
However, on Friday, Alberta’s Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services confirmed it has no plan to change its flu immunization program, meaning residents will still be able to access flu shots free of charge this season.
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residents → confirm → charge
The ministry declined to answer questions from The Globe and Mail about COVID-19 coverage.
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ministry → decline → coverage
Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends that the seasonal flu vaccine should be offered annually to everyone six months of age and older who does not have a medical reason to avoid it.
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who → recommend → it
The committee said vaccination is “particularly important” for people at high risk of flu-related complications or hospitalization, including seniors and pregnant individuals.
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vaccination → say → seniors
For COVID-19 shots, NACI strongly recommends the vaccine be offered to high-risk individuals and that adults older than 80, long-term care home residents, moderate or severely immunocompromised individuals and adults 65 to 79 with underlying medical conditions receive a second dose per year.
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adults → recommend → year
Everyone else may receive an annual vaccine.
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Everyone → receive → vaccine
In Saskatchewan, influenza and COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be provided free of charge to all residents six months and older.
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vaccines → continue → residents
The British Columbia Ministry of Health said free flu shots will be available to all residents six months and older, but it’s unclear who will be covered for COVID-19 shots.
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who → say → shots
While COVID-19 vaccines will be available this fall, eligibility and immunization locations have yet to be announced.
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locations → have → ?
The government website states: “If a COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for you, you will receive a notification.”
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you → state → notification
Similarly, Nova Scotia said that details of the full respiratory vaccine program, including COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, shots, will be announced in coming weeks.
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details → say → weeks
