Québec Immunization Program

The Québec Immunization Program aims to improve the population’s health by offering certain vaccines or preventive treatment for free. These protect against specific diseases. The Québec Immunization Program includes various immunization programs for all age groups, offered free of charge. Participation is voluntary.

The decision to offer a free vaccine or a preventive treatment as part of the Immunization Program depends on the analysis of several criteria related to the disease targeted, in particular:

• Its seriousness
• Its consequences
• Its frequency
• The number of people that catch it
• The population groups affected
• The existence of other methods to prevent the disease
• The effectiveness and safety of the vaccine or the preventive treatment
• The objectives, for example, the urgency with which the disease needs to be controlled
• The comparison between the costs of immunization and the medical and social costs associated with the disease and its complications
• Acceptance of the vaccine or the preventive treatment by the public and health professionals
• The availability of human and financial resources
• The availability of the vaccine or the preventive treatment

The Immunization Program includes ongoing monitoring and evaluation measures. Its application allows achievements to be quantified, problems to be discovered and resolved, and program to be adjusted as needed.

The vaccines currently offered in the Québec Immunization Program protect against the following illnesses:

• COVID‑19
• Diphtheria
• Flu (influenza)
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections
• Measles
• Meningococcal infections
• Mpox (monkeypox)
• Mumps
• Pneumococcal infections
• Poliomyelitis
• Rabies
• Rotavirus gastroenteritis
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infections
• Rubella
• Serious Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infections
• Shingles
• Tetanus
• Varicella (Chickenpox)
• Whooping cough

Anyone living in Québec can receive some of the vaccines or the preventive treatment listed in the recommended immunization schedule for free.

Some people can also receive other vaccines for free due to their health, age, lifestyle or work. Consult your health professionnal or CLSC to find out which vaccines you are eligible to receive for free.

Other vaccines may be recommended, but not for free.

The procedure to follow in order to get vaccinated varies by region.

To find out how to proceed and where to get vaccinated, contact your CLSC, your doctor or your pharmacist. To find their contact information, see the Finding a Resource section. You can also consult Clic Santé to find out the vaccination location nearest you or make an appointment by calling 1-877-644-4545 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.).

Do not forget to bring your immunization record with you to your appointment. The immunization record is generally given at birth or at the first vaccination appointment. Information about the vaccines that have been administered will be entered in your vaccination record and in the Québec Vaccination Registry.

Make sure your vaccination is always up to date. If you go on a trip, you can also consult a vaccination clinic specializing in travel health. To find contact information for travel health clinics, contact your CLSC or your regional public health authority. You can also visit the page Health Canada Travel Health.

The Québec immunization schedule includes vaccines offered free of charge under the Québec Immunization Program. Other vaccines may be recommended due to health condition, lifestyle, work, activity or travel.

Several vaccines are administered during childhood. To best protect your child, do not omit any vaccines and have them administered at the recommended ages. Children must receive their first vaccines at 2 months of age in order to be protected as soon as possible.

Preventive treatment against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is also available for babies born during the RSV season (autumn and winter).

For each vaccine, the immunization schedule is established according to the following principles:

• The vaccine must be administered at the age when the risk of catching the disease is highest
• The vaccine must be effective at the age when it is administered
• The number of doses administered must result in short-term protection
• The vaccine must be administered at the age when it causes the least symptoms
• The need and timing for a booster must be evaluated to ensure long-term protection

Consult the immunization schedules below to find out at what age your child should receive vaccines that are essential for their protection. Your child must receive several doses of some vaccines to ensure long-term protection. These doses are called “booster doses”.

Accessible version of the immunization schedule for infants

Accessible version of the immunization schedule for school-age children

Accessible version of the immunization schedule for adults