COVID-19 Vaccination
Individuals 6 months of age or older who are living, working or going to school in Ontario are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, even if they do not have OHIP coverage. Vaccine appointments are available through community immunization clinics, some hospital immunization clinics & some pharmacies. Some locations allow walk-ins.
PEDIATRIC
Children 6 months of age to 4 years old are eligible to receive the updated Moderna XBB.1.5 or Pfizer XBB.1.5 vaccine :
Not previously vaccinated (never received any COVID-19 vaccine):
For Moderna, 2 doses are given at least 8 weeks (56 days) apart. Immunocompromised children receive 3 doses, with each dose given at least 8 weeks (56 days) apart.
For Pfizer, 3 doses are given, each dose given at least 8 weeks (56 days) apart. Immunocompromised children receive 4 doses, with each dose given at least 8 weeks (56 days) apart.
Previously vaccinated (Booster doses): Those who have been previously vaccinated with the older versions of the COVID-19 vaccines, are eligible for 1 dose of Moderna XBB.1.5 or Pfizer XBB.1.5 provided it has been 6 months since the last vaccination or COVID-19 infection. This interval can be lowered to 3 months with informed consent.
Individuals 5-17 years old are eligible to receive the updated Moderna XBB.1.5 or Pfizer XBB.1.5 vaccine:
Not previously vaccinated (never received any COVID-19 vaccine):
1 dose of either Moderna XBB.1.5 or Pfizer XBB.1.5 will be given
Previously vaccinated (Booster doses): Those who have been previously vaccinated with the older versions of the COVID-19 vaccines, are eligible for 1 dose of Moderna XBB.1.5 or Pfizer XBB.1.5 provided it has been 6 months since the last vaccination or COVID-19 infection. This interval can be lowered to 3 months with informed consent.
ADULT
Individuals 18 years and older are eligible to receive the updated Moderna XBB.1.5 or Pfizer XBB.1.5 vaccine:
Not previously vaccinated (never received any COVID-19 vaccine):
1 dose of either Moderna XBB.1.5 or Pfizer XBB.1.5 will be given
Previously vaccinated (Booster doses):
Those who have been previously vaccinated with the older versions of the COVID-19 vaccines, are eligible for 1 dose of Moderna XBB.1.5 or Pfizer XBB.1.5 provided it has been 6 months since the last vaccination or COVID-19 infection. This interval can be lowered to 3 months with informed consent.
Vaccine appointments can be booked online by clicking on the links below or by phone. Walk-ins are also accepted at some locations.
PEDIATRIC
Children 6 months of age to 4 years old are eligible to receive the updated Moderna XBB.1.5 or Pfizer XBB.1.5 vaccine :
Not previously vaccinated (never received any COVID-19 vaccine):
For Moderna, 2 doses are given at least 8 weeks (56 days) apart. Immunocompromised children receive 3 doses, with each dose given at least 8 weeks (56 days) apart.
For Pfizer, 3 doses are given, each dose given at least 8 weeks (56 days) apart. Immunocompromised children receive 4 doses, with each dose given at least 8 weeks (56 days) apart.
Previously vaccinated (Booster doses): Those who have been previously vaccinated with the older versions of the COVID-19 vaccines, are eligible for 1 dose of Moderna XBB.1.5 or Pfizer XBB.1.5 provided it has been 6 months since the last vaccination or COVID-19 infection. This interval can be lowered to 3 months with informed consent.
Individuals 5-17 years old are eligible to receive the updated Moderna XBB.1.5 or Pfizer XBB.1.5 vaccine:
Not previously vaccinated (never received any COVID-19 vaccine):
1 dose of either Moderna XBB.1.5 or Pfizer XBB.1.5 will be given
Previously vaccinated (Booster doses): Those who have been previously vaccinated with the older versions of the COVID-19 vaccines, are eligible for 1 dose of Moderna XBB.1.5 or Pfizer XBB.1.5 provided it has been 6 months since the last vaccination or COVID-19 infection. This interval can be lowered to 3 months with informed consent.
ADULT
Individuals 18 years and older are eligible to receive the updated Moderna XBB.1.5 or Pfizer XBB.1.5 vaccine:
Not previously vaccinated (never received any COVID-19 vaccine):
1 dose of either Moderna XBB.1.5 or Pfizer XBB.1.5 will be given
Previously vaccinated (Booster doses):
Those who have been previously vaccinated with the older versions of the COVID-19 vaccines, are eligible for 1 dose of Moderna XBB.1.5 or Pfizer XBB.1.5 provided it has been 6 months since the last vaccination or COVID-19 infection. This interval can be lowered to 3 months with informed consent.
Vaccine appointments can be booked online by clicking on the links below or by phone. Walk-ins are also accepted at some locations.
When Should I GET A COVID-19 VACCINE after A COVID-19 INFECTION?
For those in the midst of completing a primary series (2 or 3 doses depending on the vaccine), the next dose can be given 2 months (56 days) after the positive COVID-19 test (if asymptomatic) or from the 1st day of symptoms. For children who developed MIS-C (multisystem inflammatory syndrome) after COVID-19 infection, the recommended interval is at least 3 months (90 days) or longer until symptoms recover. For those who have been previously vaccinated, a booster dose can be given 6 months after a COVID-19 infection.
COVID-19 SELF-isolation
WITH SYMPTOMS:
If you have any severe symptoms (for example, chest pain, difficulty breathing, confusion, losing consciousness) or if you have a child under 3 months old who has a fever or appears unwell, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
If have the following milder symptoms that cannot be explained by another diagnosis (ie. seasonal allergies), then you presumably have COVID-19:
Any one of these symptoms:
Regardless of whether you tested positive or negative for COVID-19, stay at home until you no longer have a fever, your symptoms have improved for at least 24 hours (48 hours if you have gastrointestinal symptoms) and you are not developing additional symptoms. (If you are immunocompromised, you should stay at home for 10 days). You should wear a well-fitted mask for 10 days from the start of symptoms, avoid activities that require taking off your mask such as dining out, avoid non-essential visits to high risk individuals and to the highest risk settings** such as nursing homes and hospitals.
NO SYMPTOMS:
If you have NO symptoms but tested positive for COVID-19, you should wear a well-fitted mask for 10 days from the start of symptoms, avoid activities that require taking off your mask such as dining out, avoid non-essential visits to high risk individuals and to the highest risk settings** such as nursing homes and hospitals.
Please notify any close contacts to monitor for symptoms for 10 days after the last meeting, to wear a mask and to avoid visiting highest risk settings** such nursing homes. A close contact is anyone you were less than two metres away from for at least 15 minutes, or at least 10 minutes if not wearing masks, in the 48 hours before symptoms began or positive COVID-19 test result, whichever came first.
**Highest risk settings include: hospitals and acute health care settings, congregate living settings such as long-term care and retirement homes, First Nation elder care lodges, group homes, shelters, hospices, temporary foreign worker settings and correctional institutions.
Still not sure if you need to get tested or self-isolate? Click on the button below and take this self assessment test:
If you have any severe symptoms (for example, chest pain, difficulty breathing, confusion, losing consciousness) or if you have a child under 3 months old who has a fever or appears unwell, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
If have the following milder symptoms that cannot be explained by another diagnosis (ie. seasonal allergies), then you presumably have COVID-19:
Any one of these symptoms:
- Fever and/or chills
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Loss of sense of smell or taste
- Runny nose/nasal congestion
- Muscle aches/joint pains
- Extreme tiredness
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Digestive symptoms (ie. nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, loss of appetite)
Regardless of whether you tested positive or negative for COVID-19, stay at home until you no longer have a fever, your symptoms have improved for at least 24 hours (48 hours if you have gastrointestinal symptoms) and you are not developing additional symptoms. (If you are immunocompromised, you should stay at home for 10 days). You should wear a well-fitted mask for 10 days from the start of symptoms, avoid activities that require taking off your mask such as dining out, avoid non-essential visits to high risk individuals and to the highest risk settings** such as nursing homes and hospitals.
NO SYMPTOMS:
If you have NO symptoms but tested positive for COVID-19, you should wear a well-fitted mask for 10 days from the start of symptoms, avoid activities that require taking off your mask such as dining out, avoid non-essential visits to high risk individuals and to the highest risk settings** such as nursing homes and hospitals.
Please notify any close contacts to monitor for symptoms for 10 days after the last meeting, to wear a mask and to avoid visiting highest risk settings** such nursing homes. A close contact is anyone you were less than two metres away from for at least 15 minutes, or at least 10 minutes if not wearing masks, in the 48 hours before symptoms began or positive COVID-19 test result, whichever came first.
**Highest risk settings include: hospitals and acute health care settings, congregate living settings such as long-term care and retirement homes, First Nation elder care lodges, group homes, shelters, hospices, temporary foreign worker settings and correctional institutions.
Still not sure if you need to get tested or self-isolate? Click on the button below and take this self assessment test:
WHERE CAN I GET A COVID-19 PCR TEST?
COVID-19 PCR testing is only available to the following groups:
Those with symptoms who are:
Those without symptoms who are:
If you meet the above criteria for testing, then you can book an appointment at a testing centre:
Those with symptoms who are:
- Aged 60 years of age and older
- Aged 18 years of age and older who have at least one condition that puts them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease
- Aged 18 years of age and older who are unvaccinated or have not completed their first round of vaccinations (e.g., their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines)
- Aged 18 years of age and older who have received their first round of vaccinations (or primary series) AND received their last COVID-19 vaccine dose more than 6 months ago AND have not had a COVID-19 infection in the past 6 months
- Immunocompromised individuals
- Pregnant individuals
- Patients seeking emergency medical care or other outpatients where the health care professional judges it to be necessary
- Health care workers providing patient care
- Staff, volunteers, residents/inpatients, essential care providers, and visitors in highest risk settings including hospitals and congregate living settings with medically and socially vulnerable individuals, including international agriculture workers.
- Household members of staff in highest risk settings and patient-facing health care workers
- Home and community care workers
- People who are underhoused or experiencing homelessness
- First responders, including firefighters, police and paramedics
Those without symptoms who are:
- From a First Nation, Inuit, Métis community, and/or who self-identify as First Nation, Inuit, and Métis, and their household members
- Travelling into First Nation, Inuit, Métis communities for work
- On admission/transfer to or from hospital or congregate living setting
- People in the context of confirmed or suspected outbreaks in highest risk settings as directed by the local public health unit
- Individuals, and one accompanying caregiver, with written prior approval for out-of-country medical services from the General Manager, Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)
- Any patient with a scheduled surgical procedure requiring a general anaesthetic 24-48 hours prior to procedure date
- Newborns born to people with confirmed COVID-19 at the time of birth within 24 hours of delivery, with a repeat test at 48 hours after birth if baseline test is negative, or if the parental test results are pending at the time of discharge
- People 24-48 hours prior to treatment for cancer or prior to hemodialysis, at the discretion of the treating clinician
- Staff of highest risk settings who, within the last 10 days, have had close contact with an individual with symptoms compatible with COVID-19 or an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19, for the purposes of facilitating return to work, as directed by sector-specific guidance or Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) or Occupational Health staff.
If you meet the above criteria for testing, then you can book an appointment at a testing centre:
After you get tested, you can access your results online by clicking on the button below:
If you are not eligible for PCR testing, you can still do a rapid antigen test at home. Free rapid antigen test kits may be available at the following locations while supplies last. Please click on the button below to find your nearest location:
Are tHERE Medications to tReat COVID-19?
Yes, there are medications that may be available to high risk patients within 5 days of symptom onset. Please speak to your physician to see if it is right for you. If you meet the criteria, your physician may direct you to a Clinical Assessment Centre. Some Clinical Assessment Centres allow you to book an appointment directly without a physician's referral. For a list of locations and their respective booking procedures, please click on the button below:
HELP reduce the spread of COVID-19
Even if you had COVID-19, you are not necessarily immune. You can still get COVID-19 again. You can also get COVID-19 even if you are fully vaccinated, though symptoms will be milder and unlikely to require hospitalization.
To protect yourself and others, please continue to:
To protect yourself and others, please continue to:
- Adhere to physical distancing as much as possible. Keep at least 2 meters or 6 feet apart from those who do not live with you.
- Wear a mask in crowded indoor public spaces and in situations where you are unable to physically distance such as private workplaces, public transit, taxis, rideshares. Remember to wear one when reporting to a COVID-19 assessment centre or a hospital or medical clinic.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Cover your cough or sneezes with your elbow, upper sleeve or tissue, not your hand.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Self-isolate if you are required to.
Proper Handwashing Technique
Click below to learn more about proper handwashing technique:
handwashing.pdf | |
File Size: | 381 kb |
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SELF ISOLATION - HOW TO DO IT?
Click below to learn more about self isolation with no COVID-19 symptoms:
how-to-self-isolate-no-symptoms_english.pdf | |
File Size: | 314 kb |
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how-to-self-isolate-no-symptoms_simplifiedchinese.pdf | |
File Size: | 449 kb |
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Click below to learn more about self isolation with COVID-19 symptoms
how-to-self-isolate-with-symptoms_english.pdf | |
File Size: | 315 kb |
File Type: |
how-to-self-isolate-with-symptoms_simplifiedchinese.pdf | |
File Size: | 387 kb |
File Type: |
AnY QUESTIONS? CONTACT
- Health Connect Ontario - call 811
- Your family doctor or pediatrician
- Your local public health unit:
Toronto Public Health 416-338-7600
Durham Region Public Health 1-800-841-2729