Rexall Survey Finds Flu-Shot Awareness Gaps, but Key Methods Are Missing

As Canada moves through the fall respiratory-virus season, a new survey commissioned by Rexall points to a possible communication gap: the company says 44% of respondents knew they were eligible for a free flu shot, while 26% said they had already received one or planned to get one this season. The results were released on Oct. 28.

The poll was conducted by Angus Reid for Rexall. The release does not state the sample size, field dates, exact question wording, response rate or weighting details. Those omissions limit what readers can conclude: the percentages describe the survey respondents as presented by the company, not a verified estimate of flu-vaccine uptake or awareness across Canada.

A company survey is not a national coverage measure

For comparison, the Public Health Agency of Canada’s seasonal respiratory vaccination coverage survey reported that 34% of adults said they had received an influenza vaccine during the 2025–26 season. That was a separate survey measuring reported vaccination, not the same question or period as Rexall’s awareness-and-intention poll. The two figures should not be compared as if they track a change in national uptake.

The practical question for pharmacy teams is less about the headline percentage and more about whether people know what applies where they live. Eligibility, funding, age limits and delivery arrangements are set by provincial and territorial programs and can change during the season.

What pharmacists can do this season

• Check the current provincial or territorial program before telling a patient that a vaccine is publicly funded or that a particular age group is eligible.
• Confirm the pharmacy’s current supply, appointment or walk-in process, age limits and any call-ahead requirements; operational details may differ by location.
• Ask patients what they understand about eligibility and access, then correct gaps with the relevant government or public-health information rather than relying on survey headlines.
• Explain the distinction between publicly funded eligibility and any privately paid option, including applicable costs, before booking or administering a vaccine.
• Respond to questions about clinical suitability using current immunization guidance and the patient’s circumstances. A marketing survey cannot establish an individual’s clinical need or predict local demand.

Ontario, for example, opened its fall influenza and COVID-19 vaccination program to everyone aged six months and older who lives, works or studies in the province on Oct. 26, with access through participating pharmacies and other providers. That is a jurisdiction-specific example, not a Canada-wide eligibility rule. Pharmacists should direct patients to the current program in their own province or territory.

References

1. Rexall / Angus Reid. “New Rexall Survey Signals Potential Drop in Vaccination Rates as Canada Heads Into Flu Season.” News release, Oct. 28, 2026. Read the release.
2. Public Health Agency of Canada. “Seasonal respiratory vaccination coverage survey: 2025–2026 season.” Read the survey report.
3. Government of Ontario. “Flu facts.” Review Ontario eligibility and access information.