TPH-fixed site vaccination clinics will close after December 13. Learn more on where you can get your COVID-19 vaccine.

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:

  • are on medications that weaken the immune system – you may want to time the vaccination with their medications
  • had an allergic reaction within four hours after receiving their first COVID-19 vaccine dose
  • have severe allergies to any of the vaccine ingredients

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:

  • Six months to four years old
    • Two doses of the updated Moderna vaccine at least eight weeks apart OR
    • Three doses of the updated Pfizer vaccine at least eight weeks apart
    • To further improve protection and effectiveness of the vaccine, NACI and the Ontario Ministry of Health recommends eight weeks as the best interval between doses in the primary series. Evidence will continue to be monitored and information will be updated as needed.
  • Everyone five years of age and older get one dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine

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 vaccinated in the past. An updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine (XBB) was approved by Health Canada on December 5, 2023.

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/winter 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 original Novavax COVID-19 vaccine (protein subunit vaccine) is an option for people 12 years of age and older.

An updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine (XBB) was approved by Health Canada on December 5, 2023. It can be given to anyone 12 years of age and over. A single dose is authorized if someone has been vaccinated in the past with any COVID-19 vaccine. Two doses have been authorized if someone has never received a COVID-19 vaccine.

  • People who have not been vaccinated are at the highest risk of serious illness and hospitalization for COVID-19 infection, including in children.
  • Children infected with COVID-19 and its variants can spread it to others even if they do not develop symptoms. Most children who get infected with COVID-19 do not usually get very sick. However, some children have developed serious illness and needed hospitalization, even if they did not have other health conditions.
  • COVID-19 infection in children may lead to rare but serious health issues, including:
    • Myocarditis or pericarditis (heart inflammation)
    • Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C), a serious inflammatory reaction that occurs about four weeks after having COVID-19. It often requires hospitalization or ICU admission.

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:

  • Reduce COVID-19 virus spread in the community
  • Protect against COVID-19 variants of concern
  • Protect friends, family and community members, including people who have a higher risk of getting very sick
  • Protect them from severe illness and being hospitalized
  • Provides protection from long COVID, even if they get a COVID-19 infection while vaccinated
  • Provide longer protection against COVID-19 compared to immunity from an infection

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.

  • Health Canada has approved COVID-19 vaccines as safe and effective for this age group, they meet quality standards, and the benefits of the vaccines outweigh the risks of COVID-19 infection.
  • Health Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada continue to monitor the safety of all COVID-19 vaccines approved in Canada and will take appropriate action as needed.
  • Since the clinical trials, the pediatric vaccines have been given to millions of children in Canada and the USA. The vaccine continues to be safe.
  • The COVID-19 vaccines for children are a smaller dose compared to the dose for adults. This is because younger children have strong immune systems and need a smaller amount of vaccine to get protected.
  • Boosters are safe—they were carefully studied and millions of doses have been given worldwide.
  • Evidence shows the recommended longer intervals between doses may lower the risk of myocarditis with or without pericarditis.

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:

  • Sore arm near the injection site
  • Feeling tired
  • Headache
  • Achy muscles or joints
  • Fever and chills

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.

Learn more on where to get your COVID-19 vaccines.

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:

Tips for babies and younger children

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.

Tips for older children and youth

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.