Guidance on the use of COVID-19 vaccines for 2025 to summer 2026

On January 10, 2025, the Public Health Agency of Canada released the National Advisory Committee on Immunization's (NACI) Guidance on the use of COVID-19 vaccines for 2025 to summer 2026. This guidance is based on current evidence and NACI expert opinion.

Following a thorough review of the evidence, NACI makes the following recommendations, which apply for all of 2025 and up to the summer of 2026:

• NACI recommends a COVID-19 vaccine for previously vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure or severe COVID-19 disease, which includes the following individuals:
  • All adults 65 years of age or older
  • Those 6 months of age and older who are:
    • Residents of long-term care homes and other congregate living settings;
    • Individuals with underlying medical conditions that place them at higher risk of severe COVID-19, including children with complex health needs;
    • Pregnant women and individuals who are pregnant;
    • Individuals in or from First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities;
    • Members of racialized and other equity-denied communities; and
    • Health care workers and other care providers in facilities and community settings.
  • NACI recommends that all other previously vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals (6 months of age and older) who are not at increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 exposure or severe COVID-19 disease (i.e., not listed above) may receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

For those previously vaccinated, most are recommended to receive only one dose per year. However, some populations are recommended to also receive a second annual dose to mitigate the waning protection from COVID-19 vaccines.

• The following individuals who were previously vaccinated and are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease should receive a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine per year:
  • Adults 80 years of age or older;
  • Adult residents of long-term care homes and other congregate living settings for seniors; and
  • Individuals 6 months of age and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised (due to an underlying condition or treatment).
• Previously vaccinated adults 65 to 79 years of age who are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease may receive a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine per year.