COVID-19 vaccinations will ramp up as the 2025-2026 respiratory illness season begins.
Be aware of changes this fall. For example, cost of the COVID-19 vaccines will now fall on provinces and territories...similar to other immunizations (flu, etc)...rather than the federal government.
Expect each province to update their guidelines on who will get the COVID-19 vaccine for free. For example, only high-risk patients (age 65 and older, etc) will get the vaccine for free in Alberta.
But don’t let this set you back in your vaccination campaign.
Who should be vaccinated? Continue to bring up COVID-19 vaccination for ages 6 months and up...and offer the chance for patients or caregivers to speak with the pharmacist about vaccination.
For instance, data suggest vaccination reduces risk of long COVID, hospitalizations, deaths, adverse pregnancy outcomes from COVID-19, etc.
And despite heart warnings for mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, myocarditis is still rare...about 27 cases per million doses in males 12 to 24 years...and less common and severe than with COVID-19 infection.
Keep this table handy to sort through the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommendations.
Which vaccine should be used? Comirnaty and Spikevax COVID-19 mRNA vaccines will target the Omicron LP.8.1 variant for the 2025-2026 season. But don’t expect to see the protein subunit vaccine Nuvaxovid this year.
Dispense either Comirnaty or Spikevax...there’s no preference between them.
Stay alert for mix-ups, since either can be given to patients 6 months and older, but dosing varies between them.
For Comirnaty, the dose volume is always 0.3 mL, but be aware of three vial strengths... 3 mcg/0.3 mL for 6 months to 4 years, 10 mcg/0.3 mL for 5 to 11 years, or 30 mcg/0.3 mL for 12 years and up.
For Spikevax, there is only one vial strength of 0.1 mg/mL, but dose volume differs based on age... 0.25 mL for 6 months to 11 years or 0.5 mL for 12 years and older.
Keep in mind that combo flu/COVID-19 vaccines won’t be available this fall...and it’s okay to give the separate vaccines at the same visit.
See our COVID-19 Vaccines 2025-26 resource for dosing, storage, etc...plus answers to FAQs about safety and effectiveness.
- An Advisory Committee Statement (ACS) National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) Guidance on the use of COVID-19 vaccines for 2025 to summer 2026. https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/publications/vaccines-immunization/national-advisory-committee-immunization-statement-guidance-covid-19-vaccines-2025-summer-2026/naci-statement-2025-01-10.pdf (Accessed September 6, 2025).
- Government of Canada. COVID-19 vaccines: Canadian Immunization Guide. September 2025. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/canadian-immunization-guide-part-4-active-vaccines/page-26-covid-19-vaccine.html (Accessed September 6, 2025).
- Government of Alberta. COVID-19 info for Albertans. https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans (Accessed September 6, 2025).