Immunization is safe and is an important part of staying healthy. Make sure that your immunizations are up-to-date. Talk to your health care provider or contact your community/public health centre about the immunizations you need for your own health, and your partner’s health.
Immunization protects against many preventable diseases. Some of these diseases could lead to lifelong complications and even death. If you haven’t had all of your immunizations, or have not received your immunizations on schedule, it is never too late for you to catch up.
Getting immunized is much safer than getting the disease that it prevents. Some vaccines provide protection for life, while others need to be repeated (boosted) after a certain period of time.
Vaccines have important benefits for everyone. This goes for family members too. It’s just as important for them to be protected.
Yes, vaccines used in Canada are safe and work. Getting immunized is much safer than getting the disease.
In Canada, vaccines must go through strict testing before they are approved for use.
Health Canada carefully supervises vaccine production. Testing of vaccines is thorough and continuous.
Health care providers follow strict procedures to ensure the vaccine is given safely, effectively, and with your consent and understanding.
The most common symptoms you may have after an immunization are temporary redness, swelling or pain where the needle has been given.
The symptoms usually last for 1-3 days after immunization.
Severe allergic reactions to immunizations are rare. However, as with any medicine or medical treatment, there can be rare side effects. If you notice anything not usual for you after an immunization, contact your health care provider.
Learn more about vaccine safety.
The vaccines you need as an adult depend on your age, lifestyle, overall health, pregnancy status, job, and travel plans.
Your needs also depend on who you are in close contact with and what vaccines you had as a child.
Some vaccines protect for life, others need to be repeated (boosted) after a certain period of time.
Examples of vaccines that need repeating are:
There are certain vaccines recommended depending on your health, your job or your travel plans.
Talk to your health care provider about your needs and your medical history. It’s important to be up-to-date with all routine immunizations.
Make an appointment at the community/public health centre closest to you.
For recommended immunizations, see the Alberta Health Services adult immunization schedule.
If you plan to travel, find out what immunizations you may need to enter foreign countries.
The need to be immunized before you travel depends on:
To learn more about travel vaccines, click here.
To learn more about AHS travel health services.
For more information on safe travel, go to Well on your Way.
For current Travel Health Notices (including the Zika virus), click here.
Some workers need immunizations for their own protection and for the safety of the public.
Some examples include:
Check with your workplace occupational health representative to make sure you have the immunizations you need.
For more information:
Ready or Not contains a lot of information. So we created My To-Do List for you to use as a personal reminder, share with your partner, or bring to your next check-up.
Be sure to click “Add this to my To-Do List” anytime you see something you want to print, email, save, or share. Because we do not ask for any personal information, your list will only be saved for a week after your last added item.
