COVID-19 Vaccine

I am aged 12 or older and had a first dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna). When can I get my second? 

You can get your second dose if it has been a minimum of 8 weeks since your first. You may receive either Pfizer or Moderna as a second dose. They are both mRNA vaccines and they are interchangeable (meaning it doesn't matter what brand name you receive).

• Book an appointment at www.covidvaccineLM.ca or call 1-800-922-0096 ext. 9 (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday). 
• Need help in Middlesex-London? Call 226-289-3560 (8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. daily)

Age-Specific Guidance

• Youth aged 12 to 17 must only accept the adult dosage of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, as advised by the Ontario Ministry of Health, until further notice
• Adults aged 18 to 24 are recommended to accept Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) vaccine, as advised by the Ontario Ministry of Health, unless they request Moderna (Spikevax) vaccine through informed consent

I had a first dose of Astra Zeneca. When can I get my second?

Whether you choose a second dose of AstraZeneca or an mRNA vaccine, you must wait 8 weeks (56 days) between your two doses.

If you choose AstraZeneca for your second dose:

• If your first dose was at a pharmacy, the pharmacy will contact you with an earlier second dose appointment. If you had your appointment 4 or more weeks ago and have not heard from the pharmacy, please call them.
• Find COVID-19 pharmacy vaccine locations from the Province of Ontario.
• If your first dose was at a primary care provider, your provider will contact you with an earlier second dose appointment.
• Astra Zeneca is not available at Public Health clinics

You can safely accept an mRNA vaccine for your second dose. If you choose an mRNA for your second dose: 

• Speak to your pharmacy or primary care provider to find out what vaccine types they offer. 
• Book an appointment at www.covidvaccineLM.ca or call 1-800-922-0096 ext. 9 (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday). 
• Need help in Middlesex-London? Call 226-289-3560 (8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. daily)

Who can get a third dose or booster dose?

If you are eligible due to a medical condition that requires a doctor's referral or eligible prescription, you can get a third dose 8 weeks after your second. 

If you are eligible for another reason, you can get a third dose 6 months (24 weeks) after your second. 

• People who are 70 or older
• Starting December 13, people who are 50 or older
• Transplant recipients
• Patients with hematological cancers
• Recipients of an anti-CD20 agent
• Residents of high-risk congregate settings including long-term care homes, higher-risk licensed retirement homes and First Nations elder care lodges
• Patients undergoing active treatment for solid tumors
• Recipients of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell
• People with moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency
• People with stage 3 or advanced untreated HIV infection and those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
• People undergoing active treatment with some categories of immunosuppressive therapies
• People who live in a retirement home
• Seniors who live in congregate settings such as assisted-living facilities, chronic care hospitals and congregate senior’s apartment buildings
• People taking other immunosuppressant medications (contact your doctor to find out if you’re eligible)
• People aged 70 and older (born in 1951 or earlier); the Chief Medical Officer of Health recommends that preference be given to the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for individuals aged 70 and over receiving their booster dose, based on evidence of increased vaccine effectiveness in this age group.
• Health care workers (read the list of eligible health care workers)
• Designated essential caregivers in congregate settings (including long-term care home and retirement home staff and designated caregivers)
• People who received two doses of AstraZeneca or one dose of Janssen (a complete series of a viral vector vaccine)
• First Nation, Inuit, and/or Métis adults and their household members
• People receiving dialysis (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis)
  
  

For the full Provincial announcement about booster doses, please visit the Ontario Newsroom story on Booster Dose Eligibility or read the Ministry Guidance on COVID-19 Vaccine Third Dose Recommendations. 

The decision to offer these boosters is aligned with recommendations of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization. 

I had my first dose outside of Ontario or Canada. What should be my second dose?

In Canada, as of September 13 2021, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Janssen have been approved for use by Health Canada. 

The World Health Organization added some vaccines authorized in other countries to their Emergency Use List, including CoronaVac/Sinovac, and Sinopharm/BBIBP. Effectiveness of these vaccines can vary. 

Ontario's Ministry of Health aims to balance optimal protection against COVID-19 by offering a dose of a Health Canada approved mRNA vaccine (e.g. Pfizer or Moderna) to specific individuals who have been vaccinated outside of Canada. 

Read the Ministry Guidance for full details, including scenarios for what to do if you have been vaccinated outside of Ontario or Canada. 

As well, children in Ontario have been impacted by COVID-19 measures to control spread, including attending school remotely, missing out on sports and social activities, and other impacts to their mental well-being.

Vaccinating all eligible individuals helps reduce community spread of COVID-19, allowing us all to recover from the pandemic, sooner.

Additional support:

Video: Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, provides advice for families about the importance of vaccinating children, once eligible. (Source: CBC.ca, 2021)

All vaccines in Canada are heavily regulated by Health Canada. It is illegal to sell or market a vaccine in Canada that has not completed all required stages of research and safety trials. Visit Health Canada's website to learn more about how the vaccines are studied and tested for youth and children in Canada. 

For children under 12, Southwestern Public Health will require a parent or legal guardian to provide consent at the appointment.

Children aged five to 11 (and turning age five in 2021) will receive the pediatric Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine which is a slightly modified, lower dose (one-third the amount given to individuals aged 12 and over), in a two-dose series at a recommended interval of eight weeks between first and second doses.

Additional resources:

• Current status of vaccine research and safety reviews from Health Canada
• Vaccine safety information from the Ministry of Health
• Health Canada reported side effects following COVID-19 vaccination in Canada (updated weekly)
• Ministry of Health - COVID-19 Vaccine Information Sheet: For Children (Age 5-11)
• SWPH: COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet (Ages 5-11)

• The Max the Vax Campaign was created by Canadian physicians and health care providers to offer credible information to parents and caregivers about the COVID-19 vaccine. 

  Max Facts for Caregivers of Children (Aged 5-11)

  Max Facts for Youth (Aged 5-11)

Should a child turning 12 in 2022 wait to get an adult dose?

Children often look to trusted adults for cues that may help build confidence or reaffirm fears. Provide clear, calm language to children to reduce fears and anxiety. 

For example, if your child is afraid of the pain of a needle, avoid telling your child the needle won’t hurt. Instead, acknowledge that needles do hurt, even for adults, and that nurses have strategies to help make it hurt less.

Here are helpful resources to help children and youth feel confident about their decision to be vaccinated.

• Tips for speaking to children about COVID-19 vaccines from UNICEF.org
• Deciding to vaccinate, with guidance about general vaccination discussions with children, from Health Canada
• COVID-19 Vaccination & You: A family’s guide to COVID-19 vaccination for youth aged 5+ 
• Information to read together with your child from experts in children's care at McMaster Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Toronto Sick Kids, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Centre, LHSC Children's Hospital and others.
• Frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccine for children and youth, endorsed by leading Ontario children’s hospitals.
• Pediatric Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine: Frequently Asked Questions from the Ontario Ministry of Health.
• Find more support at Ontario.ca/covidvaccinekids

Your child’s primary care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner) is the best resource for answering questions about your child’s health.

If you have general questions about COVID-19 vaccination for children, you can also call:

Southwestern Public Health Response Centre
1-800-922-0096 ext. 9 (8:30-4:30, Monday to Friday)
Low German language translation is available by request

SickKids Toronto Vaccine Consult Service

Learn more at the SickKids.ca website.

VaxFacts from Scarborough Health Network
Online resources or speak with a medical professional
Learn more at the VaxFacts website.

Starting November 23 at 8 a.m., those born in 2016 or earlier can book a vaccine appointment.

To book, visit www.covidvaccineLM.ca or call 1-800-922-0096 ext. 9 (8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday). 

For children under 12, Southwestern Public Health will require a parent or legal guardian to provide consent at the appointment.

• Wear a face covering at all times
• Wear short sleeves
• Bring health card and ID
• If you have a booked appointment, please arrive on-time, not early
• Cancel if self-isolating, have COVID symptoms, or travelled in the last 14 days

Here is some additional information to prepare for your appointment: 

• Ministry of Health - What You Need to Know About Your COVID-19 Appointment
• Ministry of Health - COVID-19 Vaccine Information Sheet // Youth-Version (Ages 12-18) // Child Version (Ages 5-11)
• Ministry of Health materials in additional languages
• Mass Immunization Clinic Transportation Information

Feeling nervous?

If you are nervous about getting a COVID-19 vaccine or are afraid of needles, the CARD (Comfort, Ask, Relax, Distract) system may be able to help. Our team of professionals at the Immunization Clinics will do everything they can to help you have a comfortable experience.

Here is what you can expect on the day of your vaccination, along with a few important things to remember:

• Plan to spend about 30 minutes at the clinic.
• Parking is free.
• You will be screened for COVID-19 at the door. Please, DO NOT ATTEND if you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, are self-isolating, or have travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days.
• You will be asked to follow all COVID-19 public health guidelines including masking, hand hygiene, and physical distancing. If you do not have a face covering, a mask will be provided upon entry.
• After you receive your vaccination, you will be asked to wait for a 15 minute recovery period before exiting the clinic.
• Washrooms are available on site. 

Personal support

Please bring a support person with you when you come for your vaccination if you require assistance related to any mobility, visual, hearing or cognitive concern. Your support person will be able to attend the visit with you, and they will need to pass a COVID-19 screening questionnaire when you arrive at the vaccination clinic. 

Be aware of common side effects

Like other vaccines or medications, the COVID-19 vaccine can cause side effects. Not everyone will experience these and most are minor or not long-lasting. Examples include:

• Pain at injection site, redness, or swelling
• Tiredness
• Headache
• Muscle pain, or joint pain
• Chills, or fever

Serious side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine are rare. If you experience a serious side effect after being vaccinated, seek medical attention right away.

Get your second dose

You are not fully immunized until you have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. After your first dose, follow instructions from your health care provider to ensure you receive the second dose at the right time. 

It is very important that you receive a second dose, even if you experienced mild side effects after the first dose. 

Continue following public health guidelines

Remember to continue following public health measures until more of our community is vaccinated against COVID-19: 

• Wear a face covering or mask
• Keep physically distanced from others
• Get tested if you feel sick or have symptoms of COVID-19
• Stay home when sick
• Wash or sanitize your hands often

mRNA vaccines use messenger RNA to teach the body’s cells how to make a protein which will cause your body to have an immune response and make antibodies. These antibodies then help fight an infection if the virus later enters the body. These vaccines do not use a live virus so they cannot give you COVID-19.

Did you know? The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are interchangeable. This means it doesn't matter which vaccine you get for your second dose - it can be "either/or". Biologically they work the same way in your body. If you get two of the same mRNA vaccines, or one of each, the end result will be excellent protection from COVID-19 and its variants.

Learn more about COVID-19 mRNA vaccines from Health Canada. 

Learn about COVID-19 viral vector-based vaccines from Health Canada. 

Yes. Only vaccines that Health Canada determine to be safe and effective are approved for use in Canada and made available in Ontario.

Learn more about vaccine safety:

• COVID-19 Vaccine Safety (Government of Ontario)
• Vaccine safety, concerns and possible side effects (Health Canada)
• Vaccine Development and Approval Process (Health Canada)
• What You Need to Know About COVID-19 Vaccine in Canada (Health Canada)
• Reported Side Effects Following COVID-19 Vaccination in Canada (Health Canada)

Watch these videos to learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine safety in Canada:

• Vaccine safety in Canada (Health Canada)
• Ask Ontario Doctors – COVID-19 Vaccine Facts (Ontario Medical Association)
• Vaccine Safety (Immunize Canada)

COVID-19 vaccines go through the same review process that all vaccines go through to be authorized for use by Health Canada. Given the scale and urgency of the global pandemic, the Federal Government of Canada dedicated scientific, financial and human resources to complete the review process for COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible.

Learn more about Vaccine Development and Approval in Canada from Health Canada. 

Receiving an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) after receiving AstraZeneca for your first dose

In the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) statement of June 17, 2021, NACI recommends that an mRNA vaccine is preferred as the second dose for people who received a first dose of the AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD vaccine. This is based upon studies that suggest a better immune response when the mRNA Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is provided as the second shot. Since the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are considered interchangeable, the second dose can also be of Moderna. Evidence continues to support this mixed vaccine schedule is safe.

Receiving a different mRNA vaccine for your second dose

The practice of mixing similar vaccines from different manufacturers for different doses (known as a heterologous vaccine schedule) is not new. It is used when vaccine supply or programs change, and is consistent with the guidance of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).

Similar vaccines from different manufacturers are interchangeable when they:

• Are authorized for the same purpose
• Are authorized for the same populations
• Have similar schedules
• Have similar, or produce similar, types of antigens
• Have similar vaccine safety profiles
• Provide similar immune response and protection

Pfizer and Moderna vaccines meet all these criteria and are essentially the same vaccine, just produced by a different manufacturer. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that mixing mRNA COVID-19 vaccines will make them unsafe or less effective. Due to this, NACI has declared the two mRNA vaccines to be interchangeable. Results from ongoing studies, including Canadian data, is also closely monitored by NACI to ensure ongoing safety and to make any updated recommendations.

Learn more

• A Safe and Effective Second Dose (Ministry of Health)
• Recommendations on the use of COVID-19 Vaccines (NACI)
• mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines - What's the Difference?

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre has created a great list of resources for women considering COVID-19 vaccine who are trying to conceive, pregnant or breastfeeding: https://sunnybrook.ca/content/?page=pregnancy-breastfeeding-fertility-covid-19-vaccine 

Other organizations have also released information that might interest you:

• Health Canada
• Dalhousie University
• Canadian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 
• EN: Ontario.ca/covidvaccinepregnancy FR: Ontario.ca/vaccincovidgrossesse

• Following Ontario's re-opening rules for each stage
• Wearing a face covering (mask)
• Washing/cleaning hands often
• Staying at least 2 metres (6 feet) apart from others
• Avoiding non-essential travel
• Staying home when sick

Learn more about preventing the spread of COVID-19.

On November 9, Health Canada authorized the use of Pfizer-BioNTech for booster doses 6 months after a completed vaccination series for anyone aged 18 or older in Canada.

However, until the Ministry of Health provides provincial guidance for use in Ontario, only those currently eligible can book a third dose / booster dose. 

High rates of vaccination against COVID-19 are critical to helping protect our communities and hospital capacity while keeping Ontario schools and businesses safely open.

The government released the regulations and guidance for businesses and organizations to support them in implementing proof of vaccination requirements, which take effect on September 22, 2021.

*Please note, this form is ONLY for residents of Elgin County, Oxford County and the City of St. Thomas.*
Important: After you submit your form, allow approximately 3 business days before accessing your receipt online at ontario.ca/vaccinereceipts

In Oxford County, Oxford County Community Support Services has received funding to provide free transportation to COVID-19 vaccination clinics. If you have a physical, mental, developmental or learning disability, or experience mobility, vision or hearing impairment issues and are facing barriers in getting to and from your COVID-19 vaccine appointment, you can contact 1-888-866-7518 or oxford.intake@von.ca to book your free trip. This program is generously funded by the Province of Ontario.

Thank you for asking! We've developed materials that you can share with friends, family, clients, customers and the broader community. 

• Business Door Sign - Vaccination is Key to Reopening Business
• Social Media Graphic - Vaccination is Key to Reopening Business
• Poster - Celebrations
• Poster - Youth Sport
• Poster - Adult Sport
• Poster - Thriving Business
• Poster - In person learning
• Poster - In person worship
• Poster - Hugging Family
• Facebook Profile Picture Frame
• Vaccination is Key logo

Vaccine Resources for Adults:

• Ministry of Health - What You Need to Know About Your COVID-19 Appointment
• Ministry of Health - COVID-19 Vaccine Information Sheet
• Ministry of Health materials in additional languages

Vaccine Resources for Youth:

• Ministry of Health – COVID-19 Vaccines for Youth
• Southwestern Public Health - COVID-19 Vaccines & You information guide 
• Ministry of Health - COVID-19 Vaccine Information Sheet (under age 18)
• Ministry of Health - What youth need to know about their appointment
• Questions and Answers about COVID-19 Vaccines for Ontario Youth (from experts in children's care at McMaster Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Toronto Sick Kids, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Centre, LHSC Children's Hospital and others)