The Spring COVID-19 XBB vaccine is available for eligible residents. Vaccines are available at select pharmacies and primary care providers. Find a pharmacy here. COVID-19 vaccines are available by appointment only at Toronto Public Health clinics (for Novavax vaccine and children 6 months to 4 years of age).
Staying up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines this spring is important to protect the most vulnerable people in our community from serious illness, including hospitalization and death.
The National Advisory on Immunization (NACI) and Ontario Ministry of Health recommends a Spring dose of a mRNA XBB COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer) or Novavax XBB for the best protection among our most vulnerable who are eligible for a Spring dose.
The COVID-19 vaccines protect us from the COVID-19 virus. They teach our immune system to make antibodies that protect against COVID-19. These antibodies can recognize and attack the virus when it enters the body. The vaccines cannot give you COVID-19.
The vaccine is given using a needle in your upper arm. It takes at least two weeks after getting a vaccine dose to be protected. It is safe to get the vaccine at the same time as most other vaccines, except for the RSV and MPOX vaccines.
COVID-19 vaccines are the best way to protect from getting very sick or experiencing long-term problems from a COVID-19 infection. They are a safer way to build protection than getting sick with COVID-19.
COVID-19 vaccines:
Health Canada has currently approved three vaccines for use in Canada:
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends a COVID-19 XBB vaccine this spring for those who are at highest risk (Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax) .The XBB vaccines are still able to provide protection to variants that are circulating.
For information about the recommended COVID-19 vaccines for different age groups, doses and timing of doses, visit: Vaccines Eligibility & Doses.
Some vaccines previously authorised in Canada are no longer available:
Most vaccine side effects are mild and last for one to three days. Common side effects include:
Severe side effects are rare. Get medical attention right away if you develop any of these symptoms after getting a vaccine:
Myocarditis and pericarditis are types of inflammation in different parts of the heart. In Canada, there have been rare reports of myocarditis/pericarditis after getting a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. The situation is being closely monitored.
Most people who have gotten myocarditis/pericarditis after vaccination had a mild illness and symptoms went away without any concerns about long-term complications. Getting a COVID-19 infection puts you at more serious risk of myocarditis/pericarditis. For this reason, vaccination is still recommended as the benefits outweigh the risks.
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.
An AEFI is any time you feel unwell more than what you were told to expect after receiving a vaccine. If you think you are experiencing an AEFI, contact your health care provider and let them know you feel unwell and recently received a vaccine.
Anyone can report an AEFI to Toronto Public Health (TPH). Health care providers are required to report AEFIs to TPH.
TPH reports AEFIs to the Ontario Ministry of Health, Public Health Ontario, and the Public Health Agency of Canada to make sure that vaccines are as safe as possible, even after they are approved. Companies that produce vaccines do not help with investigations of AEFIs, but they are aware of reports for the safety of their products.
The vaccine contains an active ingredient that gives our body instructions to make antibodies. Other vaccine ingredients include lipids (fats), salts, sugars and buffers.
COVID-19 vaccines do not contain eggs, gelatin (pork), gluten, latex, preservatives, antibiotics or aluminum.
People with allergies, including serious allergies to food, medications, and insect bites can get the COVID-19 vaccine. Allergic reactions can be treated and are usually temporary. People are monitored for 15 minutes after vaccination for any reactions.
People with severe allergies to any of the vaccine ingredients should speak with their physician/allergist about getting the vaccine. Some people with allergies to an ingredient can still be safely vaccinated.
If you get a serious reaction after your first dose, talk to your health care provider about future vaccinations. Sometimes you can still be safely vaccinated or can received a different vaccine.
Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is in the Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. PEG can also be found in laxatives, makeup, skin care products, personal lubricants, toothpastes, and some contact lenses. It is also in cough syrup, over-the-counter medications, and in some food and drinks.
Tromethamine is in the Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna vaccine. It helps to make the vaccine stable. Tromethamine can be found in dyes used for CT or MRI scans, medications, cosmetics, perfumes and skin creams.
Polysorbate-80 is in the Novavax vaccine. It is used to hold (or bind) the vaccine ingredients together. Polysorbate-80 can be found in most processed food, sauces, condiments, soups, ice cream, chewing gum, soaps, creams, bath gels, shampoo, body butter, cosmetics, vitamins, heart medication and contraceptives (birth control).
Ingredients in currently available vaccines:
Everyone six months and older is recommended to stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. For more information about available COVID-19 vaccines, doses and timing of doses for infants, children & youth, visit: , visit: Vaccine Use by Age.
Talk with your child’s health care provider before they get vaccinated about the vaccine options and benefits and risks of being vaccinated based your child’s unique situation, including if:
Learn more about the routine vaccines available for infants, children & youth:
Getting the COVID-19 vaccine when pregnant or planning a pregnancy may have the following benefits:
Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals should receive all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses as soon as they are able.
Recommendations for vaccination during pregnancy and/or breastfeeding:
Talk to your health care provider if you have questions about getting vaccinated and to understand the benefits of getting the vaccine compared to the risks of getting the COVID-19 infection. For most people, getting a COVID-19 vaccine is the safest choice.
See COVID-19: Where to Get Vaccinated to find a vaccine clinic near you.
There is no evidence the vaccines impact fertility, menstrual irregularities, puberty, or normal growth and development.
The main ingredient in the vaccine is mRNA and that lasts in your body for a few days before it is removed from the body. The body develops an immune response in the first few weeks after vaccination. Some may have a temporary change in their menstrual cycle because of this immune response. A menstrual cycle can also temporarily change from everyday life including stress, changes in weight and exercise. The World Health Organization recommends not delaying vaccination if menstruating.
A COVID-19 infection can also affect menstruation. For example, in one study, one out of five patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection had temporary changes in the length of their cycle and the amount of bleeding.
References: (BMJ). (Li et al., 2021)