Canadian Immunization Guide

From Public Health Agency of Canada

Who this guide is for

This guide was developed for those with an interest in immunization, including:

• health professionals
• vaccine program decision makers
• other Canadian stakeholders

In this guide

This guide consists of 55 chapters organized into 4 parts. Chapters are updated as new evidence becomes available, and NACI and CATMAT statements are completed. Email updates are available through our mailing list.

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• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Part 1: Key immunization information
• Immunization in Canada
• Benefits of immunization
• National guidelines for immunization practices
• Communicating effectively about immunization
• Principles of combination vaccines
• Principles of vaccine interchangeability
• Vaccine administration practices
• Storage and handling of immunizing agents
• Timing of vaccine administration
• Blood products, human immunoglobulin and timing of immunization
• Immunization records
• Recommended immunization schedules
• Basic immunology and vaccinology
• Contents of immunizing agents authorized for use in Canada
• Part 2: Vaccine safety
• Vaccine safety and pharmacovigilance
• Contraindications and precautions
• Anaphylaxis and other acute reactions following vaccination
• Adverse events following immunization (AEFI)
• Part 3: Vaccination of specific populations
• Immunization of adults
• Immunization of persons with inadequate immunization records
• Immunization in pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Immunization of infants born prematurely
• Immunization of patients in health care institutions
• Immunization of persons with chronic diseases
• Immunization of immunocompromised persons
• Immunization of travellers
• Immunization of persons new to Canada
• Immunization of workers
• Part 4: Immunizing agents
• Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine
• Cholera and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) travellers' diarrhea vaccine
• COVID-19 vaccines
• Diphtheria toxoid
• Ebola virus vaccine
• Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccines
• Hepatitis A vaccines
• Hepatitis B vaccines
• Herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines
• Influenza vaccines
• Japanese encephalitis vaccine
• Measles vaccines
• Meningococcal vaccines
• Mumps vaccines
• Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccines
• Pneumococcal vaccines
• Poliomyelitis (polio) vaccines
• Rabies vaccines
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
• Rotavirus vaccines
• Rubella vaccines
• Smallpox and mpox (monkeypox) vaccines
• Tetanus toxoid
• Typhoid vaccines
• Varicella (chickenpox) vaccines
• Yellow fever vaccine

Details and history

Updated:

see Table of updates

Part of topic(s):

Immunization and vaccines

Suggested citation

Public Health Agency of Canada. [Chapter]: Canadian Immunization Guide [Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Government of Canada; Date of publication/last update (Format: YYYY Mmm DD) [cited date (Format: YYYY Mmm DD)]. Available from: URL

For assistance

If you have any comments or questions regarding the Canadian Immunization Guide, contact the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). PHAC does not provide medical advice regarding individuals or cases.