Vaccination

Vaccinate and Up-to-Date — a Kids Come First initiative

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) immunization service criteria have evolved in recent years. OPH clinics are for children under 5 (and their household members) and newcomers without OHIP who are not serviced by pharmacies or have limited access to primary care. For the majority of the population, pharmacy or your primary care provider are the main providers of these vaccines.

If you don't meet OPH criteria, you will be redirected to another community option for vaccination.

Book here!

Community vaccination clinics

Ottawa Public Health offers vaccines through local community clinics and neighbourhood health and wellness hubs which include pediatricians and nurses who have lots of experience vaccinating little ones.

Please visit Ottawa Public Health’s website for the most up-to-date information or head directly to the Provincial Booking Portal to book an appointment. You can also call the Provincial Vaccine Booking Line at 1-833-943-3900 (TTY for people who are deaf, hearing-impaired or speech-impaired: 1-866-797-0007).

For information on where to get your flu shot in the community, visit Ottawa Public Health's website.

Participating pharmacies who continue to be the primary access point for flu vaccines for people two years of age and older, with many pharmacies offering walk-in services and appointments.

Helpful resources to help support you and your family this respiratory season:

OPH factsheet – About Respiratory Illness
OPH and CHEO handout – My child is sick. Where do I seek care? And when?
CHEO – What you need to know: fever
CHEO – Deciding to come to the emergency department
CHEO – Cough and colds
Province of Ontario webpage – Protection from respiratory illness
Public Health Ontario factsheet - How to protect yourself and others from respiratory viruses
Health 811– Call 8-1-1 to connect with a registered nurse day or night for free, secure and confidential health advice

RSV: What you need to know

Since October 2024, a one-time immunization was made available to protect newborns against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Learn more about RSV, and how you can protect your child through immunization:

What is RSV, and how does it spread?

RSV is a major cause of respiratory illness in babies and young children that mainly affects their airway and lungs. RSV often causes cold-like symptoms and is the most common cause of a chest infection called bronchiolitis.

RSV spreads easily from person to person. You and your child can get RSV by having direct contact with a person or surface that is infected with RSV. You can also get it by being around someone infected with RSV who is coughing or sneezing.

Babies and young children often have mild illness from RSV and recover quickly, but some may develop a severe infection that leads to hospitalization and is life-threatening.

RSV is a leading cause of hospitalization for young children from the late fall to the early spring. This is why it’s important to get your newborn immunized to offer them the best protection!

How can I protect my newborn against RSV?

There are two main ways to protect yourself and your newborn against RSV:
1. Practice good hand hygiene and do your best to avoid contact with people who are ill.
2. For babies and pregnant people, immunization offers great protection against RSV and is shown to reduce hospitalization.

How safe is the RSV immunization?

The RSV immunization is used across the globe and results are in: it’s very safe! Immunization against RSV saves lives and reduces the need for hospitalization.

Similar to other routine immunizations there can be some minor side effects including a rash, swelling or redness at the injection site, or a slightly raised temperature.

When and where can I get my newborn immunized against RSV?

Starting in October 2025, RSV immunization is available for babies born on, or after, April 1, 2025, who are less than eight months of age at the time of immunization. This is covered by Ontario, and immunizations are available through birthing hospitals, family physicians, Ottawa Public Health and community immunization programs like Vaccinate and Up-to-Date.

For more information, visit our Vaccination and Immunization page.

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