Quebec to stop offering COVID vaccine for free to most people, shots cost up to $180

Quebec will no longer offer free COVID-19 vaccines to all residents starting this fall.

According to Dr. Luc Boileau, the province’s public health director, the vaccines will still be available at no cost for certain high-risk groups.

This includes immunocompromised individuals or have chronic illnesses, people aged 65 and older, on dialysis, residents of long-term care facilities (CHSLDs), private seniors’ residences (RPAs), healthcare workers, and pregnant individuals.

A vaccination campaign will be held for vulnerable people, then the remaining doses will be available to the rest of the population. This means that access to the vaccine will either depend on their position in the province’s prioritization schedule or an individual will have to pay out of pocket in order to get a vaccine.

The Association québécoise des pharmaciens propriétaires stated that the cost for a vaccine dose will range between $150 and $180.

“The guidelines for the COVID-19 vaccination campaign for the 2025-2026 season were determined based on the recommendations made by the Quebec Immunization Committee (CIQ),” said Marie-Pierre Blier, media relations from the Ministry of Health and Social Services, “and in light of the reduction in vaccine doses provided to Quebec by the federal government.”

She added that the members of the CIQ conducted a scientific review, including a review of the most recent information available to determine the groups for whom the benefits of vaccination are greatest: those who are vulnerable and at risk of complications.

“It should be noted that the primary goal of the vaccination program is to reduce serious complications, hospitalizations, and deaths related to COVID-19,” she said.

With most of the population having developed some level of immunity over the past five years, the government no longer recommends vaccination for the general public.

Quebec is no longer receiving free COVID-19 vaccine supplies from the federal government, making it necessary for the province to assess how many doses it will require moving forward.

Quebec is the second Canadian province after Alberta to no longer offer the vaccine free of charge to its entire population. 

-With files from The Canadian Press