Flu Statistics

1 billion

people are infected globally by the flu every year.¹

3,500

Canadians die annually from influenza.²

Up to 60%

of Canada’s flu-related respiratory illness might have been prevented by flu shots among non-elderly people during 2019-2020.³

90%

of Canadians believe the flu shot is safe.⁴

Only 39%

of Canadian adults got their shot during the 2021-2022 flu season.²

Only 43%

with chronic medical conditions got a flu shot in Canada during 2022-2023.⁴

Your Flu Questions, Answered

Is it recommended that I get a flu shot every year?

YES.

The reason why is pretty simple. Influenza strains evolve over time — this is why a new flu vaccine is produced every year. In response, vaccine producers modify protections based on the dominant strains identified annually by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Do flu shots give you the flu?

NO.

Flu shots are commonly made using inactivated (dead) virus cells that can’t make you sick, and vaccines that do use live cells — known as live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIV) — use weakened strains that don’t cause influenza. Bottom line: your flu shot won’t give you the flu.
Will I feel sick after I get the flu shot?

You might. It’s normal to experience mild, temporary symptoms like soreness, redness, fatigue, or mild fever — which may last a few hours to a few days. But that doesn’t mean the vaccine “made” you sick; it’s just part of your body’s natural response to the flu shot as it works to build immunity. Severe reactions are extremely rare, but if you notice something, consult a doctor right away. You can find more information about reporting adverse symptoms here.
Are all flu shots the same?

NO.

Although we commonly refer to “the flu shot” as a singular entity, there are actually a number of different vaccines available in Canada. Notably, some vaccines are widely recommended for the general public, whereas others are adjuvanted vaccines, and can offer protection for high-risk populations such as adults over 65. Learn more about different types of flu vaccines here.
Do flu shots 100% prevent me from getting sick?

NO.

Like most vaccines, flu shots don’t guarantee complete protection — but they can help prevent the flu, and it’s one of the simplest steps you can take to help protect yourself. Flu vaccines do not treat flu and its complications once it develops.
What is the burden of influenza on the Canadians healthcare system?
To paint a picture, consider these numbers reported by the Government of Canada based on data from the 2022-2023 flu season:

Flu contributes to an estimated 12,200 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths each year in Canada

Hospitalization due to influenza in the 65+ age group is estimated at 125 to 228 per 100,000 healthy elderly people

Vaccination coverage among seniors (74%) is below the national target (80%) with no significant improvement made in recent years

Only 43% of the adults aged 18–64 years with chronic medical conditions received the flu shot in Canada. This proportion is similar to the previous seasons
Can I get my flu shot at the same time as my COVID-19 vaccine?

YES.

In Canada, all seasonal influenza vaccines may be given at the same time as, or at any time before or after administration of, COVID-19 vaccines in those aged 6 months and older.

What flu strains are recommended in vaccines this year?

Here in the Northern Hemisphere, the WHO has recommended the following composition of influenza virus vaccines for 2024-2025:

Trivalent vaccines only		Quadrivalent vaccines only^‡
Cell culture- or recombinant-based vaccines	Egg-based vaccines	Quadrivalent vaccines only^‡
A/Wisconsin/67/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus	A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus	B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus
A/Massachusetts/18/2022 (H3N2)-like virus;	A/Thailand/8/2022 (H3N2)-like virus;
B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus	B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus

Trivalent vaccines only
Cell culture- or recombinant-based vaccines
A/Wisconsin/67/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
A/Massachusetts/18/2022 (H3N2)-like virus;
A B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus
Trivalent vaccines only
Egg-based vaccines
A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus
A/Thailand/8/2022 (H3N2)-like virus;
A B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus
Quadrivalent vaccines only^‡
A B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus

^‡ Where quadrivalent vaccines are still used, the B/Yamagata lineage component remains unchanged from previous recommendations.

Whatʼs the difference between a flu pandemic and a flu epidemic?

Due to COVID-19, many Canadians have become familiar with these terms. But what do they actually mean?

An epidemic describes an outbreak that affects a large number of people within the same geographic region — or more specifically for influenza, when the positive test rate surpasses 5% with a minimum of 15 weekly detections reported in Canada.

A pandemic, on the other hand, is characterized by outbreaks that spread globally, across multiple countries and continents. As seen with COVID-19, this can lead to the closure of critical services like grocery stores, transportation, banks, schools, and beyond. You can find more tips to stay prepared via the Canadian government here.

Is it a Flu, Cold, or COVID-19?

It can be tricky to tell the difference. Some of the most common flu symptoms are similar to what you’d experience with an everyday cold, or even COVID-19. But here are some key differences to look out for.

Symptom	Flu	Cold	COVID-19
Fever	Common	Rare	Common
Cough	Common	Sometimes	Common
Sneezing	Sometimes	Common	Rare
Fatigue	Common	Sometimes	Common
Aches	Common	Sometimes	Common
Runny Nose	Common	Common	Rare
Diarrhea	Sometimes	Rare	Common
Headaches	Common	Rare	Common
Shortness of Breath	Sometimes	Almost Never	Sometimes

Select a Symptom Fever Cough Sneezing Fatigue Aches Runny Nose Diarrhea Headaches Shortness of Breath
Flu
Cold
COVID-19

Vaccine Technology

Cell based vs. Egg based

Whatʼs the difference?

For a long time, vaccines were mainly produced by growing flu viruses in hens’ eggs.

However, there also exists cell-based and recombinant flu shots.

This technology uses mammalian cells instead of eggs, to grow the influenza virus.

In recombinant technology a DNA fragment of the HA antigen is inserted in a baculovirus to produce a recombinant baculovirus.

The Bottom Line

Both egg, cell-based or recombinant flu vaccines provide protection. You can discuss your options with your healthcare professional.

Who is High Risk?

You should always contact a healthcare professional to determine if the flu vaccine is right for you — but there are certain groups of people that are at heightened risk of influenza-related complications or hospitalization. According to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), this includes: