New Pharmacy Vaccine Rules Mark Major Win
On July 1, Ontarians will be able to access critical adult vaccines through their local pharmacies, with a policy decision that expands the scope of practice for pharmacists in the province. Under the new provincial regulations, pharmacists will be able to administer publicly funded vaccines for eligible Ontarians against shingles, RSV, pneumococcal disease, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough), in addition to the already offered COVID-19 and influenza shots.
Along with the new ability to administer a wider array of publicly-funded vaccines, Ontario pharmacists will be able to assess and prescribe medications for nine new minor ailments, including calluses and corns, dandruff, dry eye, head lice, jock itch, mild headache, nasal congestion, ringworm and warts, further diverting traffic from doctor’s offices, clinics and ERs.
This marks a major expansion of convenient, community-based care. The Canadian Association of Retired Persons welcomes the changes. When vaccines are easier to get, more people can protect their health, reduce avoidable illness and help ease pressure on our already strained healthcare system.
Canada’s population is aging, yet adult vaccination rates remain below public health targets. Many older adults face barriers, including difficulty getting doctor appointments, transportation challenges, long wait times, or confusion about what vaccines they need and where to get them. Pharmacies help solve those problems because they are open evenings and weekends, and are among the most accessible health-care settings, with locations in communities across Ontario and Canada.
The health stakes are significant. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), hospitalizations for vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases more than doubled in Canada in 2024 compared with pre-pandemic levels, reaching 142 hospitalizations for every 100,000 Canadians. Nearly half of those hospitalized — more than 26,000 people — were adults aged 75 and older. COVID-19 accounted for more than 40 per cent of those admissions, while influenza and RSV combined accounted for more than half.
For Canadians 65 and older, vaccines are not simply about preventing illness — they help preserve independence, mobility and quality of life. Respiratory infections such as RSV, flu, COVID-19 and pneumococcal disease can lead to emergency room visits and hospitalization, lengthy recovery periods and permanent health decline. Shingles can cause debilitating nerve pain lasting months or even years. RSV hospitalization rates rise sharply with age, reaching 63 hospitalizations per 100,000 adults over age 80 in Canada, according to public health and clinical data reported by the Government of Canada.
In practical terms, the new framework means fewer doctor visits simply to obtain routine vaccinations. Eligible seniors will be able to receive recommended vaccines through participating pharmacies, making access faster and more convenient, while avoiding delays that often discourage immunization.
The benefits extend beyond patients. Expanding pharmacy vaccination programs helps reduce pressure on family physicians, walk-in clinics and emergency departments for serious complications due to vaccine-preventable diseases. Preventing severe infections also lowers hospitalization costs, reduces lengthy hospital stays, and helps free up acute-care beds. CIHI estimates the average COVID-19 hospitalization alone costs approximately $28,500 per patient, with an average hospital stay of 23 days.
In a strained health-care system, improving vaccine access is one of the smartest and most cost-effective investments a government can make. But access is not only about location. If a senior cannot afford a recommended vaccine or puts it off because of the out-of-pocket cost, then it is still out of reach. Provincial health plans across Canada should cover the costs of all expert-recommended vaccines.
While more needs to be done to ensure Canadian adults have access to all expert-recommended vaccines, this policy moves the needle significantly.
CARP will continue to call attention to two remaining gaps in the adult-vaccine system: the need for expanded universal access to the RSV vaccine for those 65-74 with underlying chronic conditions and for shingles vaccines for those 50+.
