Vaccination
Make sure your vaccines are up-to-date to stay healthy all year long!
Measles alert: Montreal
Consult Montreal Public Health for up to date information.
If you are not protected against measles, book an appointment with Health Services or through Clic-Santé to get your free vaccine.
To check if you are protected against measles, find more information online or book an appointment with Health Services. For people with RAMQ insurance, call 514-644-4545 to validate your vaccine status in your vaccination records, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
A vaccine (also known as an immunization) is a product that improves your immune system’s ability to fight germs that cause a disease. Vaccines can prevent certain illnesses, some of which are life-threatening.
While vaccination is not mandatory in Canada, Concordia Health Services strongly recommends everyone keep their vaccinations up-to-date.
Keeping your vaccines up-to-date
Outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses happen on Canadian and U.S. campuses every term — including measles, mumps, chicken pox, meningitis, and of course, Covid-19.
Do you know if your vaccines are up-to-date? During your time at Concordia, you have the best access to vaccine review and update that you will ever have. These services are more difficult to access in the community.
Many Concordians have not received all the vaccines that are recommended by public health experts. This puts them at increased risk for getting and spreading these illnesses. For example:
You received vaccines when you were a child, but not the ones you need as a teen and adult.
You moved to Canada from a country where vaccines were not as accessible.
Your parents chose to not vaccinate you.
Your vaccination records
If you're moving to Montreal for university, it's important to know your vaccine history. Before you leave home, make sure to:
Review your vaccine history with your health care provider and update any vaccines you’re missing. Vaccines can be costly, and student insurance plans do not offer the same coverage that employee or family plans pay for. Start early, as some vaccines require a series of shots and may take a few weeks or months to complete.
Pack your vaccine records (or a clear copy or photo). Everyone should have this vital information easily accessible.
Book a routine vaccine review with Health Services
Concordia students and staff can call Health Services at 514-848-2424 ext. 3565 to book an appointment with a nurse to:
Ask questions and discuss any concerns you have regarding vaccines
Review your vaccination history and learn what vaccines you need
Receive vaccines. The nurse can help you verify your eligibility for free and paid vaccines (below).
Bring any vaccination records that you have to your appointment, even scans or photographs if you don’t have your original records. Any information you can gather will help the nurse determine what you need. If you can't find your records you can still have your vaccinations reviewed and updated, so don't hesitate to book your appointment!
Routine vaccines
Many vaccines are available at no cost to students, staff and faculty. Criteria may apply to get the vaccine for free.
If you don't meet the criteria to receive a vaccine for free, you can still purchase the vaccine and have it administered. At Health Services, nurses and doctors can provide a prescription for certain paid vaccines.
What is this vaccine?
What does it protect against?
When should you get it?
Refer to Gouvernement of Québec recommendations.
How many doses?
Find out if it's time to get a booster dose (from the Government of Quebec, French only)
Who can receive the vaccine for free?
Everyone
Is it available at Health Services?
What is this vaccine?
What does it protect against?
When should you get it?
If you never had the disease or the vaccine, and want to be protected against Hepatitis A.
How many doses?
1–2 doses (depending on age) over the course of 6 months
Who can receive the vaccine for free?
- People living with chronic liver disease
- Men who have sex with men
- People who use oral, inhaled or injected drugs in unsanitary conditions
- People who are part of a community where the risk of outbreaks is higher
Is it available at Health Services?
Yes
What is this vaccine?
What does it protect against?
When should you get it?
If you never had the disease or the vaccine, and want to be protected against Hepatitis B.
How many doses?
2–3 doses (depending on age) over the course of 6 months
Who can receive the vaccine for free?
- People who have multiple sexual partners
- People living with liver disease
- People who are immunocompromised
- Recipients of blood transfusions
- Men who have sex with men
- People who use drugs by injection
- People living with someone who has Hepatitis B
- People in fields where there is a professional risk of being exposed to blood or blood products
Is it available at Health Services?
Yes
What is this vaccine?
Herpes Zoster (Shingles) vaccine
What does it protect against?
When should you get it?
- 18 years and older and immunocompromised.
- 50 years and older.
How many doses?
2 doses.
Who can receive the vaccine for free?
- 18 years and older and immunocompromised:
- 80 years and older.
For others, this is a PAID vaccine; you may have coverage with your health insurance provider.
Is it available at Health Services?
- Only the PAID.
- Free is accessible through ClicSanté (click on Vaccination; then select Shingles Vaccine).
What is this vaccine?
What does it protect against?
HPV (Human Papillomavirus) that causes cervical cancer and genital warts
When should you get it?
If you never had the vaccine, and want to be protected against HPV.
How many doses?
2 doses.
Who can receive the vaccine for free?
- Men 26 years old and under who have sex with men or plan to have sex with men
- People under 18 years old
- People 18-45 years who are immunocompromised or living with HIV
- Transgender people 26 years old and under
Is it available at Health Services?
Yes
What is this vaccine?
What does it protect against?
When should you get it?
Annually, according to Quebec-specific criteria.
How many doses?
1 dose.
Who can receive the vaccine for free?
Consult Quebec’s flu vaccination program
Is it available at Health Services?
Yes — learn more about Health Services' annual flu vaccine campaign
What is this vaccine?
What does it protect against?
Meningococcal infections like meningitis
When should you get it?
When you are at higher risk of contracting Meningococcal disease, e.g., students living in student residence; or anyone who wants to be protected against meningitis. Discuss with a health professional.
How many doses?
1-2 doses, depending on the vaccine you are getting.
Who can receive the vaccine for free?
Free for people with certain medical conditions.
Is it available at Health Services?
Yes
What is this vaccine?
What does it protect against?
When should you get it?
If you never had the disease or the vaccine, and want to be protected against these infections.
How many doses?
1-2 doses, depending on certain criteria.
Who can receive the vaccine for free?
Everyone
Is it available at Health Services?
Yes
What is this vaccine?
Pertussis vaccine (combined with other vaccines)
What does it protect against?
Pertussis (aP) (“Whooping cough”)
When should you get it?
- One dose in a lifetime if not received in childhood
- In the third trimester of every pregnancy
How many doses?
1 dose.
Who can receive the vaccine for free?
Everyone
Is it available at Health Services?
Yes
What is this vaccine?
Td vaccine (can be combined with other vaccines)
What does it protect against?
When should you get it?
- If you never had the vaccine, and want to be protected against these infections.
- Booster at 50 years of age
- Booster as needed with high-risk injury (talk with a health professional)
How many doses?
1-3 doses, depending on your vaccine history
Who can receive the vaccine for free?
Everyone
Is it available at Health Services?
Yes
What is this vaccine?
Polio vaccine (can be combined with other vaccines)
What does it protect against?
Poliomyelitis (polio)
When should you get it?
If you never had the vaccine, and want to be protected against polio.
How many doses?
1-3 doses, depending on your vaccine history
Who can receive the vaccine for free?
Everyone
Is it available at Health Services?
Yes
What are these vaccine?
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines and Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine
What do they protect against?
When should you get it?
Based on specific criteria: discuss with your health professional
How many doses?
1 dose.
Who can receive the vaccine for free?
Based on specific criteria: discuss with your health professional
Is it available at Health Services?
Yes
What is this vaccine?
What does it protect against?
When should you get it?
If you never had the disease or the vaccine, and want to be protected against chickenpox infection.
How many doses?
2 doses.
Who can receive the vaccine for free?
Everyone
Is it available at Health Services?
Yes
Vaccination in Montreal
Call Info-Santé (8-1-1) or visit vaccines411.ca to find vaccination locations near you, which offer free vaccines (subject to eligibility), as well as paid vaccines. For information about the Covid-19 vaccine, visit the Quebec Covid-19 vaccination campaign website.
Get vaccinated in Montreal at your local pharmacy
Pharmacies that offer vaccines include Jean Coutu (flu), Brunet, Pharmaprix (select your pharmacy by postal code; you will then be redirected to book on ClicSanté), and Uniprix (put your postal code in; then call the pharmacy to see if they offer vaccination services).
Every pharmacy has different policies, so call in advance to find out if the pharmacy nurse can administer your vaccine without a doctor's prescription, or if you need a doctor’s prescription.
For reimbursement, verify with your insurance provider, as most do not need a doctor's prescription to reimburse vaccines. This can save yourself a doctor's appointment.
No prescription is needed at the Pharmaprix across the street from the EV building. Go to the pharmacist and book an appointment with the vaccine nurse. You will be able to receive the vaccine there for the price of the vaccine plus an injection fee. You can then submit your receipt to your insurance provider if they cover vaccines.
Other Montreal locations that offer vaccination
- Biron laboratories
- CDL Labs
- Travel clinics — The MUHC Glen site's travel clinic offers competitive prices; by appointment only.
Reliable information about vaccines
Since vaccination has become routine in Canada, many major diseases have been brought under control. You may have questions about vaccines. Explore these reliable onlines resources, or call Health Services for more information.
- General vaccination information from the Santé Montréal portal (in French, English, Arabic, Chinese and Spanish)
- Videos with simple explanations of how vaccines work: What are vaccines and how do they work? and Immunity and vaccines explained
- Shedding light on common concerns about vaccines from Concordia Health Services
- A fact sheet to help you decide if the vaccine information you find on the Internet is accurate (from Immunize Canada)
- Reliable information on vaccination from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, including 10 reasons to be vaccinated, as well as personal stories