This National Immunization Awareness Week, we join organizations across the country sharing the importance of vaccinations in the fight against infectious diseases. The 2026 theme is “The Time is Now! Get Immunized.” It focuses on reaffirming trust in the benefits of vaccines, countering dis- and misinformation, staying informed, and keeping up to date with our immunizations.
Taking a Closer Look at Vaccine Recommendations
In Canada, many vaccines are recommended from infancy to adulthood. Expert advisory committees examine current information to determine which vaccines are the most important for people to get depending on their age and risk of becoming sick.
We spoke with Canadian Center for Vaccinology investigator and pediatric infectious diseases physician Dr. Bahaa Abu-Raya about these recommendations and why they matter.
Q: How are vaccine recommendations developed in Canada, and what factors are taken into consideration when choosing to recommend a certain vaccine?
Dr. Abu-Raya: A vaccine recommendation considers the epidemiology and severity of the diseases it targets. Vaccines are intended to target infections that are common, cause a burden on the health care system and can lead to a severe disease if a person is infected.
Vaccine recommendations are made based on rigorous safety and efficacy — how the vaccine performs in prevention of infection or diseases — data that are presented to Health Canada. Even after the vaccines are approved, vaccines continue to be subject to monitoring of adverse events, or negative reactions to the vaccine.
Q: Why are so many vaccines recommended?
Dr. Abu-Raya: Given that there are numerous infections that are serious, we must have several vaccines to combat them.
Q: Are these recommendations ever changed? When or why?
Dr. Abu-Raya: Recommendations may change based on new evidence. For example, a dose may be added based on new data that may show that an additional dose is needed for better protection. A dose may be removed from the schedule if data suggest that it is not required for optimal protection from a specific infection.
Q: Who should get recommended vaccines, and why? Does this change across different life stages?
Dr. Abu-Raya: Vaccines are designed to prevent infections and as such everyone is recommended to receive vaccines according to the provincial or territorial vaccination schedule. However, there are specific vaccines that are recommended for specific populations. For example, young infants start their vaccines immediately after birth and then at scheduled intervals. Older adults have specific vaccine recommendations. People with weaker immune systems may require specific vaccines, more frequent doses and additional boosters. There are also specific vaccines recommended in pregnancy to protect the baby — for example, respiratory syncytial virus, pertussis, COVID-19 — or the baby and the mother, like the influenza vaccine.
Vaccine Recommendations Matter
Even for healthy adults, some infections can still be serious. Getting vaccinated can reduce the risk of serious infection. They also protect vulnerable people in our community by limiting how much a disease can spread.
Vaccine recommendations matter for everyone – from infants to adults to seniors. They matter in pregnancy and they matter for immunocompromised people whose immune systems have a harder time fighting an infection.
This National Immunization Awareness Week, take the time to get informed on immunization. Find out what vaccines are recommended for you:
- Routine and catch-up immunization recommendations for children by province
Further Reading:
Why Follow a Childhood Vaccination Schedule? | Canadian Center for Vaccinology
How to Check Which Vaccines You Should Get | Canadian Center for Vaccinology
Canadian Immunization Guide | Public Health Agency of Canada
Vaccine Safety | Immunize Canada
National Immunization Awareness Week 2026 | Immunize Canada