Book an appointment for the updated COVID-19 vaccine at TPH-fixed site vaccination clinics using the Province’s registration system or by calling or by calling 1-833-943-3900 (TTY 1-866-797-0007). Vaccines are also available at pharmacies and some family doctors, please call ahead to confirm supply.
Get your yearly flu vaccine and updated COVID-19 vaccine, as soon as you are eligible, to protect you and your loved ones this respiratory season.
As the weather gets colder during the fall and winter season, and children spend more time indoors, respiratory illnesses (such as flu, RSV and COVID-19) are expected to spread in our community.
It is important for everyone to stay up-to-date with their vaccinations for the best protection from severe illness or hospitalization, especially those with weaker immune systems. The updated COVID-19 vaccine targets the XBB strain of the Omicron variant to boost protection from getting very sick from COVID-19 and may provide better protection against currently circulating variants.
Everyone six months of age and older are considered up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccines when they get the fall 2023 COVID-19 dose. Children six month to four years of age who have completed their COVID-19 vaccination (primary) series and everyone five years and older can receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine six months after their last COVID-19 dose or infection (whichever is later). Children six months to four years of age who have not started or completed their COVID-19 vaccination (primary) series, can get their doses at eight weeks apart.
It is recommended to talk with your child’s health care provider before they get vaccinated to review the benefits and risks for your child’s unique situation, if they:
Routine childhood vaccination is still important during COVID-19. Children and youth six months to 17 years of age can safely get the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other vaccines, including the flu vaccine. Vaccines should only be delayed if your child has symptoms of COVID-19 or other respiratory illness. Learn more about routine immunizations for children.
Everyone aged six months and older is eligible to start a primary series with the updated COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. The Ontario Ministry of Health recommends the following:
See Vaccine Use by Age for details on recommended dosage and intervals.
Anyone six months of age and older with weakened immune systems and are considered moderately to severely immunocompromised, are recommended to get ONE additional dose in their XBB schedule. It is important to speak with your child’s health care provider about the timing for them to have the best immune response from the vaccine and minimize delays in their treatment. Let your child’s health care provider giving them the vaccine know that they are immunocompromised.
The bivalent COVID-19 vaccines are still available to start your child’s vaccine series. However, the updated vaccine that targets the XBB strain gives a stronger immune response to the more recent variants. Talk with your child’s health care provider about the benefits and risks based on their unique situation.
As an added safety measure, children who experience myocarditis/pericarditis after receiving their first dose of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine are recommended to delay their second dose until more information is available. NACI, Public Health Ontario and the Ministry of Health continue to follow this closely and will update this recommendation as more evidence becomes available.
The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine (protein subunit vaccine) is an option for people 12 years of age and older, who have not been able, due to medical reasons, or are not willing to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. An updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is expected later this fall.
For more information on vaccine use by age, visit: COVID-19: Vaccine Eligibility & Doses
Everyone six months of age and older is recommended to stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccines, which includes completing the primary series and booster doses. It helps improve protection against COVID-19 that may have decreased over time and boosts the immune response even if they have had a COVID-19 infection in the past. Health Canada authorized mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Spikevax) as booster doses for children and youth, regardless of which vaccine was used for the primary series.
Children six months to four years of age who have completed a two or a three dose vaccination (primary) series are eligible to receive a dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine this fall if it has been six months since their last COVID-19 dose or known infection.
Children who have not completed an initial two or three dose vaccination (primary) series, should complete the series with the updated COVID-19 vaccine based on the number and type of vaccine already received:
| Doses Received | Recommended doses |
| 1 dose Moderna | 1 dose of Moderna XBB |
| 1 dose Pfizer | 2 doses Pfizer or Moderna XBB |
| 2 doses Pfizer | 1 dose of Pfizer XBB or Moderna XBB |
Where possible, the same vaccine product (Pfizer or Moderna) that was used to start the vaccination (primary) series should also be used to complete the series. If this is not possible, the Moderna XBB vaccine can be used for those who started the series with Pfizer and the Pfizer XBB vaccine can be used to complete the series for children who started it with Moderna. Children who are under the age of five years who are receiving a mixed schedule involving both Moderna and Pfizer products are recommended to complete a three dose series.
The bivalent COVID-19 vaccines are still available to complete your child’s primary series or as a booster dose. However, the updated vaccine that targets the XBB strain gives a stronger immune response to the more recent variants. Talk with your child’s health care provider about the benefits and risks based on their unique situation.
Everyone six months of age and older is recommended to stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccines, which includes completing the primary series and booster doses. It helps improve protection against COVID-19 that may have decreased over time and boosts the immune response even if they have had a COVID-19 infection in the past. Health Canada authorized mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Spikevax) as booster doses for children and youth, regardless of which vaccine was used for the primary series.
All people who have received at least one dose of any COVID-19 vaccine, are eligible to get an updated COVID-19 dose this fall if it has been 6 months (minimum three months) since their last COVID-19 vaccine dose or known infection.
For children and youth with weakened immune systems, talk with their health care provider about the risks and benefits of getting the updated COVID-19 vaccine at a shorter interval between three to six months.
The bivalent COVID-19 vaccines are still available to complete your child’s primary series or as a booster dose. However, the updated vaccine that targets the XBB strain gives a stronger immune response to the more recent variants. Talk with your child’s health care provider about the benefits and risks based on their unique situation.
The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine (protein subunit vaccine) is an option for people 12 years of age and older who has not completed their COVID-19 vaccine (primary) series OR for people aged 18 and older who have completed their initial series and who have not been able, due to medical reasons, or are not willing to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. It can also be used to complete a primary series that was started using a viral vector vaccine. An updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is expected later this fall.
Even with mild symptoms, children can develop a condition called long COVID where they have symptoms weeks or months after getting COVID-19.
Getting the updated COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is available to your child this fall, is the best way to protect children and the people around them from COVID-19 related illness, hospitalization and death.
Vaccinating children helps:
The more children who are vaccinated, the safer childcare/school, sports or other activities will be. It will reduce the risk of outbreaks and prevent closures or disruptions in school and activities. In this way, vaccines help kids get back to ‘normal’, which helps to protect and promote their mental health and wellbeing.
Common COVID-19 side effects in young children are like those seen in adults. Side effects are usually mild and go away within one to three days. They include:
The vaccine continues to be safe. The risk of myocarditis or pericarditis in children following vaccination is rare.
More information on myocarditis and pericarditis:
There is no evidence the COVID-19 vaccines impact fertility, long-term menstrual irregularities, puberty, or normal growth and development.
Children with allergies can receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Children with severe allergies to food, medications, and insect bites should all be vaccinated. If your child has had a severe allergic reaction to a vaccine or medical product, or if you have other questions about allergic reactions, speak to your health care provider before getting the shot.
Children who have had MIS-C should wait to be vaccinated for at least 90 days after diagnosis (NACI 2021).
Even with a previous COVID-19 infection, people who have not started/completed their primary series or those who are eligible for a booster dose, are still strongly recommended to complete their COVID-19 series. Immunity from an infection may not last and you can get COVID-19 again. For recommendations on when to get a COVID-19 vaccine, see Previous COVID-19 Infection.
Vaccination clinics are available for children and their families at:
Children and youth without OHIP cards, may get vaccinated at any COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Toronto. For details, see residents without OHIP Cards.
Specialized Accommodations/Clinics
Homebound vaccinations
Children living with medical, physical, cognitive or psychosocial needs/conditions that prevent them from visiting a local clinic, pharmacy, or their care provider may get the COVID-19 vaccination in their home.
First, contact your child’s physician or homecare service to see if they offer home vaccination. If they do not, they will complete the Homebound COVID-19 Vaccination Referral Template form and send it to Toronto Paramedic Services (TPS). TPS will call you and confirm your eligibility and, if confirmed, schedule a date and time for a Community Paramedic to visit and complete the child’s in-home vaccination.
A new referral is required even if your child has previously received a homebound COVID-19 vaccination.
If you have questions after speaking with your child’s physician, you may contact TPS by:
Learn more at eligibility for homebound vaccinations.
Routine immunization for infants and toddlers is still important during COVID-19. Vaccine preventable diseases are still spreading globally. Waiting to vaccinate can leave children vulnerable to diseases. Vaccines should only be postponed if your child is sick with respiratory symptoms to prevent any possible spread of COVID-19 or other respiratory illness.
Children six months and older may receive a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as, or at any time before or after any other vaccines, including the flu vaccine.
For more details, see:
Vaccines given with a needle can be painful and frightening for a child. Parents play an important role in supporting their children during immunizations. The following resources can be helpful to use, before, during and after the visit to make the process less stressful.
It is important to share information in an age-appropriate way with your child about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines.
For more information:
The following resources may be helpful to answer questions you or your child has about the COVID-19 vaccine.