Immunizations & travel health · Plan ahead
Travelling soon? Start with one phone call.
Murray Shore Pharmacy provides travel vaccines and routine immunizations in North York, so trip preparation becomes one organized conversation instead of a scramble. Tell us where you are going and when, and we will map out what you may need, what we can give here, and what to book elsewhere, well before your departure date.
What an Ontario pharmacy can give you
The province sets out which immunizations pharmacies provide. Here is the list, in plain terms. Eligibility varies by vaccine, so treat this as the menu and the phone call as the order.
Routine vaccines
- Flu — about this vaccine on Canada.ca (opens in a new tab) Publicly funded for those eligible, from 2 years of age and up at a pharmacy.
- COVID-19 — about this vaccine on Canada.ca (opens in a new tab) Publicly funded for those eligible, from 6 months of age and up.
- RSV — about this vaccine on Canada.ca (opens in a new tab) For eligible adults, at the pharmacy.
- Pneumococcal — about this vaccine on Canada.ca (opens in a new tab) For eligible adults, at the pharmacy.
- Shingles — about this vaccine on Canada.ca (opens in a new tab) For eligible adults. See the funding note, it matters for the price.
- Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis — about this vaccine on Canada.ca (opens in a new tab) For eligible adults, at the pharmacy.
Each vaccine name links to its page on Canada.ca, the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Going somewhere?
Pharmacies also offer other immunizations, such as travel vaccines. Availability varies by vaccine: call with your destination and we will confirm what we can give you.
The travel-health timeline
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Six weeks out, start the conversation
The Government of Canada advises visiting a travel health clinic or talking to a health care provider about 6 weeks before your trip for personalized advice. Some vaccines need more than one dose, so early is easy and late is stressful.
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Check your routine vaccines while you are at it
Ottawa’s travel guidance is blunt on this point: keeping routine vaccinations up to date matters no matter where you are going. A trip is a natural moment to catch up.
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Sort out your paperwork
Some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination before they let you in, documented on an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis. Tell us your destination and we will help you work out what proof you need and where to get it.
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Call us with destination and dates
One call to 416-789-1800 and we take it from there: what you may need, what we can give here, what needs to be ordered, and what belongs with a travel clinic or your doctor instead.
The shingles vaccine, while we have you
Not travelling anywhere? This one is still worth a call. Ontario’s publicly funded shingles program covers seniors aged 65 to 70 with Shingrix, given as a 2-dose series, and eligible seniors can receive it at a participating pharmacy. If you are outside that age window you can still be vaccinated here, though the province no longer pays, so call 416-789-1800 to talk through cost and insurance before you decide.
Immunization and travel questions
How far ahead of my trip should I call?
About 6 weeks before you leave, which is the Government of Canada’s advice for seeing a health care provider about travel health. Booked a last-minute trip? Call anyway. We will tell you honestly what is still realistic before your departure date.
Which travel vaccines do you have in stock?
Stock varies by vaccine and by week, and some travel vaccines are ordered in per patient. Rather than guess, call 416-789-1800 with your destination and we will confirm exactly what we can provide and how quickly.
Do I need a prescription for a travel vaccine?
It depends on the vaccine. When you call with your destination, we will go through each vaccine you may need and tell you which ones we can handle directly and which need a prescriber or a travel clinic first.
Which vaccines can a pharmacist give in Ontario?
Ontario pharmacies give publicly funded flu shots from age 2 and COVID-19 vaccines from 6 months of age, and for eligible adults RSV, pneumococcal, shingles, and tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccines. Pharmacies also offer other immunizations, such as travel vaccines.
Is the shingles vaccine free for me?
Ontario’s publicly funded shingles program covers seniors aged 65 to 70, using Shingrix as a 2-dose series. Outside that window you can still be vaccinated at a pharmacy, but funding no longer applies, so call us about cost and whether your private insurance helps.
What about yellow fever?
Some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination on an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis before entry. Requirements are country-specific, so call us with your itinerary and we will help you work out what applies and where to get the vaccine and certificate.
Can my spouse and I plan one visit together?
Yes, and it is the sensible way to do it. Call 416-789-1800 with both sets of details, travel dates and destinations, and we will plan doses and timing so one visit covers you both wherever possible.
Details on this page were checked against Ontario’s pharmacies page (opens in a new tab), Ontario’s shingles vaccine page (opens in a new tab) and the Government of Canada’s travel vaccination guidance (opens in a new tab). Vaccine stock and eligibility vary: call 416-789-1800 to confirm your own situation.
Your pharmacist is one call away.
416-789-1800 Call nowPrefer not to call? Email info@murrayshore.com or visit us at Bathurst & Baycrest.