Where to Get Vaccinated

Where to Get Your Vaccines

COVID -19 vaccines are available at some health care provider offices, select pharmacies and at Toronto Public Health Clinics for eligible individuals.

Age Group	Covid-19 Vaccine Availability
6 months – 4 years old	Some health care providers offices Toronto Public Health Clinics*(see eligibility)
12+ years	Select pharmacies(see eligibility),

• Locate your nearest pharmacy using the province’s locator map
• Your health card is not needed to get your vaccines at your pharmacy or at TPH clinics
• Call to confirm vaccine availability at Healthcare practitioners and pharmacies
• *Eligible individuals must call 416-338-7600 to book an appointment at our Toronto Public Health Clinics

Homebound COVID-19 Vaccinations

Learn how to access a COVID-19 vaccine if you are homebound.

Indigenous-led COVID-19 Clinics

First Nations, Métis and Inuit individuals, including non-Indigenous partners and household members, are encouraged to contact Indigenous-supported clinics.

School-Based Vaccines

Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires that students be vaccinated against nine designated diseases or have a valid exemption. You can receive these vaccines at your doctors’ offices. If you do not have a health care provider please contact Health Care Connect for information and assistance.

The meningococcal (required under ISPA or have a valid exemption), human papillomavirus and hepatitis B vaccines are available to students in grade 7 and 8 through the School Immunization Program (SIP). TPH continues to work with school boards and administrators to host vaccination clinics at schools.

TPH is hosting community vaccination clinics for students to catch-up on any missing vaccines. Appointments are required and can be booked online.

Students in grades 9 to 12 can also get these vaccines through our community clinics or through their doctors’ offices. Physicians can order the vaccine directly from public health.

People Without Family Doctors

If you have a valid OHIP card, you can call and find out if  COVID-19 vaccines are being offered at a local pharmacy or walk-in clinic. You can also find a family doctor or nurse practitioner who is accepting new patients.

People Without health card/Insurance

You can reach out to a Community Health Centre (CHC) to receive health services. We recommend calling in advance to confirm vaccination services are available. Some pharmacies provide COVID-19 vaccination to people without an OHIP card. We recommend you call before you go to make sure.

Getting Ready for Your Vaccination

• Please review the screening questionnaire, stay home if you are feeling sick and come back when you are feeling better
• Review information about the clinic you are visiting, including directions, parking and accessibility
• Make sure that you eat before attending the clinic

What to bring:

• Your health card, if you have one, but it is not needed
  • Individuals 18 or older need to bring some form of identification
  • Acceptable forms of identification include government-issued ID (including non-Canadian and expired documents) such as a driver’s licence or passport, a piece of mail with your name on it, a pay stub or a student card
• If you are nervous about the vaccination, bring something to help distract you, such as a mobile device, headphones for music or a book
• Your mobility device, if you use one
• One support person, if needed
• Face mask is optional
• Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing
• Water

What to expect when you are getting your vaccine:

• Clinic staff will answer any questions and ask for your permission before giving you the vaccine.
• Tell the clinic nurse if you’ve fainted before or are nervous about the vaccine.
• If you feel sick at any time, tell the nurse. You must stay at the clinic for 15 minutes after you receive the vaccine to make sure you are okay.
• You will get a receipt confirming you received the vaccine
• The entire process will take about 30 minutes

Tips for a comfortable experience:

Needle fear is common in people of all ages, and some people may experience pain or discomfort when getting their vaccine because of the needle. Consider using the comfort, ask, relax, distract system to feel more comfortable when getting your vaccine:

• Comfort: Find ways to be comfortable, such as wearing a short sleeve top and relaxing your arm
• Ask: Ask questions so you can feel confident
• Relax: Find ways to keep yourself calm, such as taking deep breaths
• Distract: Distract yourself by talking to someone or listening to music

After you receive your vaccine:

• Let your health care provider know that you were vaccinated
• If you have a reaction to the vaccine, call your health care provider or Toronto Public Health at 416-338-7600
• Keep the receipt provided by clinic staff for your records

If you live in Toronto and received a dose outside Ontario, please document your vaccine.

Keeping track of COVID-19 vaccines from outside of Ontario and Canada on COVaxON is important for making sure that future doses can be given safely and at the right times. You can record each vaccine you’ve had or the whole series using Toronto Public Health’s online form.