Vaccines are an important part of staying healthy when you live with inflammatory arthritis. They help your immune system recognize and fight infections, reducing the risk of serious illness and complications. Inflammatory arthritis, as well as many of the medications used to treat it, can weaken the immune system and make some infections more likely or more severe, making vaccination especially important.
People who are immunocompromised may also have different vaccine recommendations than the general population. This can include additional doses, different vaccination schedules, or avoiding certain live vaccines.
This page provides an overview of vaccines that may be important for people living with autoimmune arthritis, including COVID-19, influenza, shingles, RSV, pneumococcal disease and HPV. Your individual vaccine needs will depend on factors such as your age, health, medications and vaccination history, so talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about what is recommended for you.
Other helpful vaccine resources include the below guide to protecting yourself from infection provided by Dr. Ines Colmegna and the CAPA + CIAN Vaccine Resources:
Guide to Protecting Yourself from Infection
CAPA + CIAN Vaccine Resources
Types of vaccines
Different vaccines protect against different infections and may be recommended based on your age, health, medications and vaccination history. Some are given every year, while others are given once or as a series of doses. For people living with inflammatory arthritis, the type and timing of vaccination may also depend on whether their medications affect the immune system.
The following section provides a brief overview of six vaccines that may be important for people living with inflammatory arthritis: COVID-19, influenza, shingles, RSV, pneumococcal and HPV vaccines. Speak with your healthcare provider about which vaccines are appropriate for you and when you should receive them.
COVID-19 vaccine
COVID-19 vaccines help protect against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. For people living with autoimmune arthritis, staying up to date is especially important because both the disease and many of the medications used to treat it can reduce the body’s ability to fight infection. Adults who are moderately to severely immunocompromised may be eligible for a second dose each year (fall and spring).
Learn more in this resource co-developed with the Canadian Immunocompromised Advocacy Network (CIAN).
Influenza (flu) vaccine
Influenza (flu) vaccines help protect against seasonal influenza, which can cause serious illness, hospitalization, and pneumonia. For people living with autoimmune arthritis, annual influenza vaccination is especially important because both the disease and many of the medications used to treat it can make it harder to fight infections. People who are immunocompromised should receive the injectable influenza vaccine, as the live attenuated nasal spray vaccine (FluMist®) is not recommended. Adults aged 65 years and older may be offered enhanced influenza vaccines (high-dose or adjuvanted like FLUAD) that provide better protection.
Learn more in this resource co-developed with the Canadian Immunocompromised Advocacy Network (CIAN).
Shingles (Shingrix) Vaccine
Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox. People living with autoimmune arthritis have a higher risk of developing shingles, particularly if they are taking biologics or other immunosuppressive medications. Shingrix® is a non-live vaccine, making it safe for people who are immunocompromised. It is given as a two-dose series.
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) Vaccine
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that can cause serious illness, particularly in older adults and people who are immunocompromised. Vaccination can help reduce the risk of severe RSV disease, hospitalization, and complications. This vaccine is not given every year. Once the recommended series is completed, routine repeat or booster doses are not currently recommended for most people, although additional doses may be needed in some circumstances.
Learn more in this resource co-developed with the Canadian Immunocompromised Advocacy Network (CIAN).
Pneumococcal Disease (Pneu-C-20 / Pneu-C-21) vaccine
Pneumococcal vaccines help protect against infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacteria that can cause pneumonia, meningitis, bloodstream infections, and other serious illnesses. People living with autoimmune arthritis who are taking immunosuppressive medications are at increased risk of pneumococcal disease. Pneu-C-20 and Pneu-C-21 are newer pneumococcal vaccines that protect against 20 and 21 different strains of pneumococcal bacteria, respectively. The number in the name simply refers to the number of strains the vaccine covers. This vaccine is not given every year. Once the recommended series is completed, routine repeat or booster doses are not currently recommended for most people, although additional doses may be needed in some circumstances.
Learn more in this resource co-developed with the Canadian Immunocompromised Advocacy Network (CIAN).
HPV (Human Papillomavirus)
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine helps protect against several types of HPV that can cause cervical, anal, throat, penile, and other cancers, as well as genital warts. People who are immunocompromised may be at higher risk of persistent HPV infection and HPV-related cancers. For this reason, people who are immunocompromised are recommended to receive a three-dose HPV vaccine series rather than the standard two-dose series used for most younger people. Gardasil®9 is the HPV vaccine currently used in Canada. This vaccine is not given every year. Once the recommended series is completed, routine repeat or booster doses are not currently recommended for most people, although additional doses may be needed in some circumstances.
How often do I need these vaccines?
COVID-19 and influenza vaccines are given every year because protection decreases over time and the viruses continue to change. Some people may be advised to receive more than one COVID-19 vaccine dose each year.
Other vaccines are given once or as a series of doses and are not given every year., like Shingles, RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), and HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine. Once the recommended series is completed, routine repeat or booster doses are not currently recommended for most people. However, additional doses may be needed depending on the vaccine, your health, your treatment or your vaccination history.
What vaccines are publicly funded where I live?
Being recommended to receive a vaccine does not always mean that the vaccine is publicly funded. Each province and territory determines which vaccines it pays for and who is eligible, and coverage may depend on your age, medical conditions, medications or other risk factors.
Visit our Provincial Vaccine Coverage page to find out which vaccines are publicly funded for people living with autoimmune arthritis in your province or territory.
CAPA gratefully acknowledges Dr. Bindee Kuriya and Dr. Ines Colmegna for contributing their clinical expertise to the development and review of these vaccine resources. Their thoughtful guidance helped ensure the information is relevant and useful for people living with inflammatory arthritis and other autoimmune rheumatic conditions. This resource was last updated in September 2026.
English 
Français du Canada