Ontario's routine immunization schedule
Learn more about the vaccines recommended for each stage of life.
About routine immunization
Vaccines help:
- build up and strengthen your immune system
- protect you against disease in each stage of life
Immunization helps to prevent serious illnesses - including many that are easily spread in schools and daycare centres.
Vaccines in Ontario’s routine immunization schedule are provided free of charge if you meet the eligibility criteria.
Learn more about vaccines and immunizations in Ontario.
See all the recommended vaccines in each stage of life.
Vaccines during pregnancy
If you're pregnant, to help protect yourself and baby during their first few months from serious illness, you should be vaccinated against:
Talk to your health care provider or local public health unit about making sure your vaccines are up to date as other vaccines may be recommended for you.
Vaccines for babies and toddlers
You should vaccinate your children during their first and second years.
First year vaccinations
At 2 and 4 months old, babies should receive the following vaccines:
- diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) in a 5-in-1 vaccine called the DTaP-IPV-Hib vaccine
- pneumococcal conjugate
- rotavirus
At 6 months old, babies should receive the following vaccine:
- diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) in a 5-in-1 vaccine called the DTaP-IPV-Hib vaccine
At 1 year of age, babies should receive the following vaccines:
- pneumococcal conjugate
- meningococcal conjugate (Men-C-C)
- measles, mumps and rubella in a 3-in-1 vaccine called the MMR vaccine
Second year vaccinations
At 15 months old, babies should receive the following vaccine:
At 18 months old, babies should receive the following vaccine:
- diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) in a 5-in-1 vaccine called the DTaP-IPV-Hib vaccine
Vaccines for children at school
Learn more about vaccines for children at school, including the school immunization checklist.
Between 4 and 6 years old, children should receive the following vaccines:
- tetanus ,diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and polio in a 4-in-1 vaccine called the Tdap-IPV vaccine
- measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox) in a 4-in-1 vaccine called the MMRV vaccine
In grade 7, children should receive the following vaccines:
Between 14 and 16 years old, teens should receive the following vaccine:
- tetanus ,diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) in a 3-in-1 vaccine called the Tdap vaccine
Vaccines for adults
As an adult you should receive the following vaccines:
- tetanus ,diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) in a 3-in-1 vaccine called the Tdap vaccine (once in adulthood and once in every pregnancy)
- tetanus and diphtheria in a 2-in-1 vaccine called the Td vaccine (every 10 years)
- flu (every fall)
- pneumococcal (at age 65)
- shingles (2-dose series between age 65 to 70)
Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines for all
- flu (every fall for everyone aged 6 months and older)
- COVID-19 (for everyone 6 months of age and older)
Personal risk factors
If you have special medical conditions or other high risk factors, you may need additional vaccines, and some of these may be free under the publicly funded program. Talk to your health care provider or your local public health unit about other recommended vaccines.