The Government of Ontario says pharmacists across the province will soon be able to administer additional publicly funded vaccines and prescribe treatment for more common ailments as part of an expansion of health-care services.
The province announced Monday that beginning in July 2026, pharmacists will be permitted to administer publicly funded vaccines protecting against tetanus, pertussis, diphtheria, pneumococcal disease, RSV and shingles.
Under the current system, those vaccines are generally available through physicians’ offices, walk-in clinics and other clinical settings.
The province also announced pharmacists will be allowed to assess and prescribe for nine additional common ailments beginning in July 2026, including calluses and corns, dandruff, dry eye, head lice, jock itch, mild headaches, nasal congestion, ringworm and warts.
Officials said the changes are intended to improve access to care and reduce pressure on Ontario’s health-care system by allowing pharmacists and other health professionals to work to the full extent of their training.
“Our government is delivering on our plan to make it more convenient for people to access the care they need, closer to home,” said Sylvia Jones.
“Ontarians have experienced firsthand the convenience of pharmacist prescribing and today’s announcement continues our progress to reduce wait times and let more of our province’s health-care professionals work to the full extent of their expertise.”
The government said Ontario pharmacies have already completed more than 2.4 million assessments for the first 19 common ailments included in the program since pharmacist prescribing was introduced in January 2023 and later expanded in October 2023.
According to the province, more than 99 per cent of Ontario pharmacies now participate in the common ailments program.
The government also said it has directed regulatory colleges for optometrists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, dental hygienists, denturists, audiologists and speech-language pathologists to begin developing frameworks for further scope-of-practice expansions.
Officials said the changes are expected to improve access to care in rural, northern, Indigenous and underserved communities while helping reduce wait times and pressure on emergency departments.
