About the vaccine

Learn about the approved COVID-19 vaccines from Health Canada, including how they work, how they are administered, ingredients, allergies, possible side effects and more:

• Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine*
• Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine*
• AstraZeneca Vaxzevria COVID-19 vaccine
  • On May 11, 2021, the Ontario Government paused administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Learn more.
• Novavax Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine

*At this time, only Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are available at HPPH COVID-19 vaccine clinics.

To inquire about receiving the Novavax vaccine, please call the Middlesex London Health Unit; to book an appointment in London, please call the MLHU booking line at 226-289-3560.

Everyone aged six months and older is eligible to receive a primary series (first and second dose) of COVID-19 vaccine in Ontario. The primary series develops a strong initial immune response. 

• To receive a vaccine, children must be at least six months of age or older on the day of their appointment. 

Please ensure the minimum time interval has passed between your first and second dose before booking your second dose appointment. 

• The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) strongly recommends an optimal interval of eight weeks (56 days) between first and second doses of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series for all eligible age groups. This will provide you with increased and longer-lasting protection from the vaccine. Individuals who wish to get their second dose at a minimum interval (e.g. 28 days) as applicable can do so with informed consent. For more information please see the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 vaccines webpage or COVID-19 vaccine: Canadian Immunization Guide Table 1. 

Immunocompromised Primary Series 

For individuals ages six months and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, a three-dose primary series is recommended. Individuals who are immunocompromised should get a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine eight weeks (56 days) after their second dose to complete their primary series. 

If you believe you are eligible for a three-dose primary series, it is recommended to speak with your health care provider if you have questions. Before receiving your vaccine, you will be asked to attest to your medical condition. 

Those eligible for a third dose as part of a three-dose primary vaccine series include: 

• Individuals receiving dialysis (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis) 
• Recipients of solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy 
• Individuals receiving active treatment (e.g., chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy) for solid tumour or hematologic malignancies 
• Recipients of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy) 
• Individuals with moderate to severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• HIV with AIDS-defining illness in the last 12 months before starting vaccine series, or severe immune compromise with CD4 count <200 cells/uL or CD4 percentage <15%, or without HIV viral suppression
• Individuals receiving active treatment with the following categories of immunosuppressive therapies: anti-B cell therapies (monoclonal antibodies targeting CD19, CD20, and CD22), high-dose systemic corticosteroids, alkylating agents, antimetabolites, or tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors and other biological agents that are significantly immunosuppressive

For more information, see the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance.

Re-Vaccination with a new COVID-19 Primary Series for Specific Post-Transplantation Groups

The province recommends re-vaccination with a new COVID-19 vaccine primary series post-transplantation for individuals who have received hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT), hematopoietic cell transplants (HCT) (autologous or allogeneic), and recipients for CAR-T-cell therapy, due to the loss of immunity following therapy or transplant. Please speak with your health care provider to determine the optimal timing for re-immunization.

A booster dose is an additional dose of vaccine. It helps to restore protection against COVID-19, which decreases over time. All Ontarians aged five and older are eligible for a booster dose if it has been at least six months (168 days) since your last dose or confirmed COVID-19 infection. 

• COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance | Ministry of Health 
• COVID-19 vaccines | Ministry of Health 

Not all children have only mild symptoms when they contract COVID-19. Being vaccinated can help improve the immune response to COVID-19 infection and lower the chances of severe illness, hospitalization, and post COVID-19 symptoms if your child dose become infected with COVID-19. Vaccination is the best and safest way to give an extra layer of protection for all children, including those aged six months to four years. 

For optimal and longest lasting protection, it is recommended that infants and children receive their primary series at least 8 weeks (56 days) apart. 

Individuals ages five and older are eligible to receive a booster dose 6 months after their last dose of COVID-19 infection. It is important for infants, children, and youth to say up to date on their vaccinations, including booster doses to have the best protection against COVID-19. 

For more information, please speak with your health care provider or call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900. 

Additional resources for COVID-19 vaccination for children and youth: 

• COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Youth [PDF]
• Vaccines for children and youth | Ministry of Health 
• COVID-19 learning hub | SickKids About Kids Health
• Max the Vax Campaign | Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies

Anyone getting the COVID-19 vaccine, including youth ages 12 to 17, must provide informed consent. Informed consent means that you understand: 

• what the vaccine involves (for example, how it is given and what possible side effects there may be)
• why it is recommended
• the risks and benefits of getting or not getting it

If someone is unable to provide informed consent to receive the vaccine (for example, for medical reasons), they will need consent from someone who can make a decision on their behalf, such as a parent or legal guardian. We encourage parents and guardians to discuss vaccination with their children prior to attending a clinic. 

If you've had COVID-19, you should still be vaccinated for protection from reinfection or severe outcomes. While infection alone provides some protection, vaccination after infection helps improve the immune response and provides better and longer-lasting protection. 

Evidence shows that waiting to get a booster dose until at least six months after COVID-19 infection can help improve the immune response. Discuss the best timing for you with a health care provider. 

For more information: 

• COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance | Ministry of Health 
• COVID-19 vaccines | Ministry of Health

For individuals 6 months and older, COVID-19 vaccines may be given at the same time as, or at any time before or after, non-COVID-19 vaccines, with the exception of Imvamune (mpox vaccine) as well as tuberculosis skin testing. 

Speak to your health care provider if you have questions. 

• COVID-19 vaccination (including booster doses) is strongly recommended before becoming pregnant or in any trimester of pregnancy. Getting vaccinated is the safest choice to protect yourself and your baby from the known risks of COVID-19 infection. 
• The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) recommend individuals trying to become pregnant, are pregnant, or breastfeeding should receive all COVID-19 vaccination doses, including a booster dose, when eligible. Pregnant individuals who are unvaccinated are at risk for severe COVID-19 complications. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine can prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and complications from COVID-19 infection.
• If you get vaccinated while breastfeeding, the vaccine itself will not transfer into breastmilk, but studies suggest that the antibodies you produce following vaccination will, which may protect your baby from COVID-19.

For more information to help you make an informed choice about whether to get the COVID-19 vaccine, see: 

• COVID-19 Resources | Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health
• COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnancy | Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
• COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy | Ministry of Health 

Make sure you understand as much as you can about COVID-19 and vaccines. Speak with a trusted source, such as your obstetrician, midwife, family doctor or nurse practitioner, or book an appointment with VaxFacts for a phone consult with a doctor about any questions that you might have. 

As with any vaccine, the COVID-19 vaccine is no different and you may experience some common, mild side effects after your vaccination which may include: 

• pain at the injection site
• redness, swelling
• tiredness
• headache
• enlarged lymph nodes
• muscle or joint pain
• chills
• fever
• upset stomach, vomiting or diarrhea

Serious side effects are rare. However, if you develop any of the following signs or symptoms seek medical attention right away or call 9-1-1: 

• hives
• swelling of the face or mouth
• difficulty breathing
• very pale colour and serious drowsiness
• high fever (over 40C)
• convulsions or seizures
• other serious symptoms (e.g., prolonged "pins and needles" or numbness) that could be an allergic reaction

Seek medical attention if you develop chest pain, shortness of breath and/or palpitations (pounding or racing heart), after receiving the vaccine. If you are concerned about any reactions you experience after receiving the vaccine, contact your health care provider. 

Although very rare, there have been reports of myocarditis and/or pericarditis after immunization with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in Canada and internationally for ages 12 and older. For most people, the heart inflammation is mild and goes away within days. 

Out of an abundance of caution and following a comprehensive review, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) updated and approved its recommendations on the use of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use among individuals aged 12 years and older in the context of myocarditis and pericarditis following vaccination. For individuals aged 12 to 29, the use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is recommended to start or continue the mRNA primary vaccine series to minimize myocarditis/pericarditis risk. Should individuals aged 18 to 29 wish to receive the Moderna vaccine, they can continue to do so with informed consent.

It is also important to note that the COVID-19 virus itself can cause inflammation, which can include myocarditis or pericarditis. The benefits of vaccination outweigh the potential risks.

Yes. 

Visit the provincial webpage, Protection from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses to learn how to protect yourself, your family, and your community from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. 

If you think you may have COVID-19 or were exposed to the virus, please see the following provincial resources for more information: 

• COVID-19 health advice for a list of symptoms, instructions on self-isolating, and additional precautions
• Take the COVID-19 self-assessment to receive recommendations on what to do if you have symptoms of illness or have tested positive for COVID-19. You can also complete the assessment on behalf of someone else. 
• Take the long-term care home screener [PDF] to find out if it's safe to visit or go to work in a long-term care home. 

There are several actions you can take to reduce your risk of illness: 

• Stay home when sick
• Get vaccinated and stay up-to-date with vaccines
• Wear a mask, especially in indoor public settings and considering wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings
• Avoid crowded indoor spaces; choose well ventilated spaces when possible
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Avoid touching your face
• Screen yourself and loved ones for any symptoms and use COVID-19 rapid tests
• Improve ventilation and filtration in your home and maintain HVAC systems
• Seek out COVID-19 antiviral treatments, if eligible

Each of these actions can be thought of as "layers" and each layer adds protection. The more layers an individual uses, the more protected they are. For more information about protecting yourself, your family, and community visit Protection from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

If you are travelling internationally, check to see if there are any COVID-19 restrictions or requirements in your destination country. 

Visit these webpages from the Government of Canada for information and advice about travelling outside of the country and returning to Canada: 

• COVID-19 and international travel
• COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders

After your vaccination, if you provided an email address, your proof of vaccination will be emailed to you and will be accessible for 5 days. If this has expired or you never received an email: 

• Visit the province's Proof of COVID-19 vaccination webpage
• Call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre: 1-833-943-3900

For more information see Vaccination Proof and Certificates.

If you have received a COVID-19 vaccine outside of the Province of Ontario, you must complete the COVID-19 Out-of-Province Dose Documentation form prior to booking an appointment for your next dose or to obtain your proof of vaccination certificate.