Flu shot in stock? These search engines will tell you

Cold and flu season is here, and Ontarians are encouraged to get the flu vaccine as the province climbs higher into its second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Because the symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu are so similar, preventing a flu infection could help save health-care resources for patients with COVID-19. 

Getting the vaccine may be trickier right now than in previous years, as the rush of people looking to get the shot this month has left some pharmacies out of stock and led to long lines and wait times at others. 

Fortunately, several pharmacy and clinic chains throughout the province maintain searchable databases of locations that offer the flu vaccine and have it in stock.

Browse our list below to find a pharmacy or clinic with the vaccine near you.

Shopper’s Drug Mart

The indicates which locations offer the vaccine and have it in stock. Just enter your city or postal code into the search field to see which stores near you have the vaccine on hand.

Filling out the online screening and consent form in advance will save you time at the counter.

Loblaw

shows which pharmacies located within Loblaws and No Frills grocery stores offer the flu vaccine and have it in stock.

Guardian and IDA

reveals which Guardian and IDA pharmacy locations offer the flu vaccine, but not whether they have it in stock. To find out if a store has the vaccine in stock, contact that store before going in.

Rexall

Rexall offers for flu vaccines, but does not allow users to search specifically for locations with the vaccine in stock. To book an appointment, select your preferred location and answer a few COVID-19 screening questions. If there are no appointments available at your preferred time, check other locations or try again later.

Appletree Medical Group

A search of Appletree’s will show nearby clinic locations and indicate whether each location has the flu vaccine avaiable. No appointment is necessary.

My Flu Shot

This shows flu shot inventories in pharmacies and health centres across Canada. Users can either search through pharmacy locations on a map or sign up to receive an email notification when their chosen pharmacy locations have the shot in stock.

Contact your to learn about upcoming flu vaccine clinics