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Vaccines for COVID-19: How to get vaccinated

Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to help protect ourselves, our families and our communities against COVID-19.

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You can book an appointment through your province or territory:

Who is eligible

COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Canada are free of charge. They are available to everyone eligible to get the vaccine.

This applies to:

COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Canada include:

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Booster doses

Over time, protection from the primary series of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine can decrease. By triggering more antibodies, a booster dose can increase the immune response and help improve protection against COVID-19.

With the Omicron variant widespread in Canada, an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine booster dose will also help protect you from severe COVID-19 disease.

If you’re eligible, it’s important to get a booster dose as soon as possible.

You may be offered a different mRNA vaccine for your booster dose than the vaccine you received for your primary series. Either mRNA vaccine is acceptable to use as a booster dose.

Booster doses are now widely available in Canada. Consult your provincial, territorial or local public health authority, as eligibility may differ by region.

Check where you can book a booster dose

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Approved vaccines for booster doses

Health Canada has approved 2 mRNA vaccines for use as boosters in people 18 years of age and older, which are the:

  • Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine
  • Moderna Spikevax vaccine

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Recommendations

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) strongly recommends booster doses at least 6 months from the last dose of the primary series for:

  • people 50 years of age and older
  • long-term care residents and seniors living in similar settings
  • people who received 2 doses of the AstraZeneca Vaxzevria/Covishield vaccine or 1 dose of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine
  • adults in or from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities
  • adults who are frontline health care workers and have direct in-person contact with patients

NACI recommends that adults 18 to 49 years of age may be offered a booster dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. The interval should be at least 6 months from the last dose of the primary vaccine series.

A booster may also be offered to youth 12 to 17 years of age who:

  • have an underlying medical condition
  • are residents of shared living settings
  • who are part of certain racialized or marginalized communities

In people over 30 years of age, both mRNA vaccines can be used for a booster dose. It’s not necessary to receive the same type of booster dose as the primary series.

For those 12 to 29, the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine may be preferred for a booster dose. This can help reduce the rare risk of myocarditis or pericarditis for this age group.

NACI will continue to review and monitor the evolving evidence on booster doses and vaccine effectiveness against variants of concern. Recommendations will be updated as needed.

Provinces and territories are responsible for planning and delivering their vaccination programs. They'll decide how best to incorporate NACI guidance into their plans to meet their unique population needs.

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Safety

Both the Moderna Spikevax and the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty mRNA COVID-19 vaccines provide enhanced protection against COVID-19 when offered as a booster dose.

Clinical trial data show that a booster dose produces an increased immune response.

The risk of myocarditis or pericarditis is rare in youths and young adults 12 to 29 years of age. Compared to older age groups, there’s a slightly increased risk after receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. The rates of these conditions after the booster dose with an mRNA vaccine appear to be somewhat lower than after the second dose. Most cases have been mild and resolved quickly with medical care.

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Previous infection

Vaccination is very important, even if you've been previously infected with COVID-19. While infection alone provides some protection, vaccination after infection helps improve the immune response and may provide better and longer-lasting protection.

If you’ve already had COVID-19, NACI recommends that you receive a booster vaccine:

  • 3 months after you tested positive or started having symptoms or
  • at least 6 months after being fully vaccinated (whichever is longer)

Provinces and territories design and deliver their own vaccination programs. When making decisions about their programs, they consider NACI’s advice along with the needs and circumstances in their region. As a result, vaccination intervals may differ by region.

For more information about the timing of your booster dose, contact your province, territory or local public health authority.

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Pregnancy

Pregnant people are at increased risk for severe outcomes of COVID-19.

If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy, you should receive a booster dose for additional protection once eligible.

Safety issues for mRNA COVID-19 vaccination haven’t been reported for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

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Number of doses for primary series

A primary series consists of either of the following:

Most COVID-19 vaccines require 2 doses for the primary series. A second dose is essential for better, longer-lasting protection, including against most variants of concern. If you've already had COVID-19, you should still be vaccinated against COVID-19 and may be offered 2 doses.

Mixed vaccine schedule

A different COVID-19 vaccine may be offered for your second dose. This is known as a mixed vaccine schedule. NACI recommends that mRNA vaccines (Moderna Spikevax or Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty) should be offered for both first and second doses. This is the case even if you received a first dose of the AstraZeneca Vaxzevria vaccine, Novavax Nuvaxovid or Medicago Covifenz.

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Additional doses for people who are immunocompromised

If you're moderately to severely immunocompromised due to disease or treatment, you may have a lower immune response to COVID-19 vaccination. NACI recommends you get an additional mRNA vaccine dose following your 1- or 2-dose primary vaccine series.

The doses in the primary series should be given 4 to 8 weeks apart. For those who are eligible, a booster dose is recommended at least 6 months after the third dose.

Children 5 to 11 years of age who are moderately to severely immunocompromised should receive a 3-dose primary series of the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty pediatric vaccine.

For more information on COVID-19 vaccines and dosage, consult a health care provider about what's best for you.

NACI strongly recommends a complete mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series for people 5 years of age and over. This includes people who:

If you're 5 to 29 years old, the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine is preferred for your primary series.

If you're 12 to 17 years of age and eligible for a booster dose, the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine is recommended.

The Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine may also be recommended as a booster dose for those 18 to 29 years of age. This is because myocarditis or pericarditis occurs less often with the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine than with the Moderna Spikevax vaccine in these age groups.

If you have an allergy to an mRNA vaccine, consult an allergist or your health care provider to discuss your options. You may be able to safely receive an mRNA vaccine under certain conditions.

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If you need a proof of vaccination

The Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination is now available in all provinces and territories. This proof of vaccination is a reliable way to show your COVID-19 vaccination history when you travel.

Visit your province or territory's website to get a proof of vaccination

When to consult with your doctor

If you have questions about getting your vaccine, consult with your health care provider.

General considerations
  • have questions or concerns about COVID-19 vaccination
  • are unsure if you should receive a COVID-19 vaccine
  • have received a COVID-19 vaccine not approved by Health Canada
  • are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19

After a first dose

Allergies
  • are allergic to:
  • have experienced an allergic reaction after a previous dose of a COVID-19 vaccine

Blood clots and low platelets
  • have experienced blood clots with low levels of blood platelets:
    • in the past as part of your medical history
    • following a viral vector vaccine (AstraZeneca Vaxzevria or Janssen)
    • after receiving heparin (an anticoagulant medicine that prevents blood from clotting)

Medical history
  • have a bleeding disorder
  • have a history of capillary leak syndrome if getting a viral vector vaccine (AstraZeneca Vaxzevria or Janssen)
  • recently had COVID-19 and were given specific medications for COVID-19 treatment

Benefits of vaccination

Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect our families, communities and ourselves against severe COVID-19 outcomes. Evidence indicates that the vaccines used in Canada are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19.

Vaccination is very important, even if you’ve been previously infected with COVID-19. While infection alone provides some protection, vaccination after infection helps improve the immune response and may provide better and longer-lasting protection.

Risk factors for exposure and severe outcomes should be assessed when considering the timing of COVID-19 vaccination. Contact your local public health authority for more information on when you should get vaccinated after having COVID-19.

Vaccination can also help prevent post COVID-19 condition. This condition refers to symptoms some individuals experience for weeks or months after being infected with COVID-19. Symptoms can be very different from those during the initial infection.

The condition can affect both adults and children.

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