Vaccines are one of the safest, most effective ways to stay well. Explore Ontario's routine schedule for children and adults, find out when your child's next shots are due, and get clear answers to the questions people search for most.
One quick, self-playing guide covering the whole journey. Switch between Children and Adults & older age, or tap any segment to jump ahead.
The complete text version of Ontario's publicly funded schedule. Free of charge when you meet the eligibility criteria.
| Age | Vaccines |
|---|---|
| 2 months | 5-in-1 (DTaP-IPV-Hib), Pneumococcal conjugate, Rotavirus |
| 4 months | 5-in-1 (DTaP-IPV-Hib), Pneumococcal conjugate, Rotavirus |
| 6 months | 5-in-1 (DTaP-IPV-Hib). Annual flu & COVID-19 begin (every fall, from 6 months) |
| 12 months | Pneumococcal conjugate, Meningococcal C (Men-C-C), MMR |
| 15 months | Varicella (chickenpox) |
| 18 months | 5-in-1 (DTaP-IPV-Hib) |
| 4–6 years | Tdap-IPV (4-in-1), MMRV |
| Grade 7 | Meningococcal ACYW, Hepatitis B, HPV |
| 14–16 years | Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) |
| Stage | Vaccines |
|---|---|
| Every fall | Flu and COVID-19 — recommended for everyone 6 months and older |
| Every 10 yrs | Td (tetanus, diphtheria) booster |
| Once as an adult | Tdap (once in adulthood — and again in every pregnancy) |
| Pregnancy | Tdap (each pregnancy, ~27–32 wks), flu, COVID-19, RSV — to protect the newborn |
| Age 65 | Pneumococcal (one dose of PNEU-P-23) |
| Age 65–70 | Shingles — Shingrix, 2 doses (free in Ontario for this age group) |
| Age 75+ | RSV vaccine (also for ages 65–74 at higher risk) |
If you have a medical condition or other risk factors, additional vaccines may be recommended — and some are free under the publicly funded program. Source: Ontario's routine immunization schedule.
Enter your child's date of birth to see the estimated dates for each set of routine vaccines, based on Ontario's schedule. Nothing is saved or sent — it all runs in your browser.
Drawn from the topics that consistently top vaccine-related searches — safety, side effects, and how vaccines work. Answers come only from the World Health Organization, the Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada and Ontario.
No. There is no link between vaccines and autism. Many large, high-quality studies across different countries — looking at different vaccines and different schedules — have found no connection. The single 1998 study that started this claim was found to be flawed, was retracted, and the author lost his medical licence. Autism rates continued to rise even after the ingredient (thimerosal) people worried about was removed from childhood vaccines, which is the opposite of what you'd expect if it were the cause.
Sources: WHO; Public Health Agency of Canada.
Most side effects are mild and short-lived — a sore arm, mild fever, or feeling tired for a day or two — and show the immune system is responding. Serious reactions are very rare. Vaccines are tested in thousands of people before approval and are continuously monitored for safety after they're in use. The risks from the diseases vaccines prevent are far greater than the risks from the vaccines themselves.
Sources: WHO; Public Health Agency of Canada.
No. The flu shot is made with an inactivated (killed) virus or no virus at all, so it cannot give you the flu. Some people feel mildly unwell or have a sore arm for a day afterward, which is the immune system building protection — not an infection. It takes about two weeks after the shot for full protection to develop.
Source: Public Health Agency of Canada.
No — a baby's immune system handles vaccines easily. Children meet thousands of germs every day, far more than the small number of antigens in vaccines. As the WHO notes, the antigens in vaccines are a tiny fraction of what the body encounters naturally. Giving several vaccines at one visit is safe, means fewer needles and trips, and protects babies sooner during the months they're most vulnerable.
Sources: WHO; Public Health Agency of Canada.
Yes — certain vaccines are recommended in every pregnancy and are an important way to protect your baby. The Tdap vaccine (ideally around 27–32 weeks) lets you pass antibodies to your baby so they're protected against whooping cough in their first months. The flu and COVID-19 vaccines are also recommended in pregnancy, and the RSV vaccine can be given to help protect the newborn. Live vaccines (like MMR) are generally avoided during pregnancy.
Sources: Public Health Agency of Canada; Ontario Ministry of Health.
HPV (human papillomavirus) is a common infection that can lead to cervical, throat, anal and other cancers. The HPV vaccine prevents the infections that cause most of these cancers and works best when given before any exposure — which is why it's offered free in Grade 7 in Ontario. It's most effective when the full series is completed.
Sources: Public Health Agency of Canada; Ontario Ministry of Health.
Beyond your yearly flu and COVID-19 shots and a tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster every 10 years, older adults should ask about: pneumococcal vaccine at age 65; the shingles vaccine (Shingrix, 2 doses), which is free in Ontario between ages 65 and 70; and the RSV vaccine, recommended at age 75 and older (and for those 65–74 at higher risk).
Sources: Ontario — free shingles vaccine; PHAC / NACI — RSV in older adults.
Yes. Diseases are rare because vaccination keeps them under control. When vaccination rates drop, diseases like measles and whooping cough come back quickly — recent measles outbreaks are a clear reminder. Many of these illnesses still circulate elsewhere and are only ever a flight away, so keeping immunity high protects everyone, including babies too young to be vaccinated.
Source: WHO.
Whether it's your baby's first shots, a teen's school vaccines, a flu shot, or your shingles and pneumococcal vaccines, Dr. Adeniran can review your record and get you up to date — right here in Windsor.