Learn about Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccination program and how to book a vaccine.
Due to Health Canada’s mandated market withdrawal of previous COVID-19 vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines will not be available as of September 1, 2024. Vaccinations will begin to be available once Ontario receives supply from Health Canada following their regulatory authorization of the updated vaccine formulation. It is estimated vaccines will begin to be available in October.
Questions about Health Canada’s mandated market withdrawal and shipment schedules should be directed to Health Canada at hcinfo.infosc@canada.ca or toll free at 1-866-225-0709 .
Vaccination with the new formulation will help ensure optimal protection when peak circulation of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses are expected.
We encourage those at increased risk for COVID-19 infection or severe COVID-19 illness to contact their primary care provider or Health811 for health advice.
This webpage will be updated with specific vaccine recommendations in the coming weeks.
Getting vaccinated and staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations is the best way to remain protected against the most severe outcomes of COVID-19 infection including hospitalization and death.
Vaccination may not always prevent symptomatic infection but it will help reduce severity if a person does become infected and decreases the risk of developing post COVID-19 condition (commonly known as long COVID).
This fall, COVID-19 vaccines will be available to everybody aged 6 months and older in Ontario at no cost, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, even if you do not have an Ontario health card.
If you do not have an Ontario health card, you may use another form of identification (photo identification is required if you are aged 18 or older) to verify your name and date of birth, such as:
It is recommended that you wait for the fall to receive your next dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, even if you did not get a COVID-19 vaccine this spring. This will ensure maximum protection when peak circulation of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses are expected.
This web page will be updated with specific vaccine recommendations for the upcoming respiratory illness season in the coming weeks.
Infants and children aged 6 months to 4 years with no previous COVID-19 vaccinations and who are not immunocompromised may use a 2- or 3-dose series of a COVID vaccine depending on the product. Vaccine site administrators will advise the appropriate interval between doses.
People aged 5 years and older with no previous COVID-19 vaccinations and who are not immunocompromised only require 1 dose of a COVID vaccine.
People who are moderately to severely immunocompromised with no previous vaccinations are recommended to receive 1 additional dose of a COVID vaccine compared to what is stated above.
The decision of when to receive COVID-19 vaccine doses may be appropriate at different times based on your unique health status and personal situation. You are encouraged to speak with their health care provider.
Contact your health care provider if you have received a hematopoietic stem cell transplant, hematopoietic cell transplant (autologous or allogeneic) or have had (CAR)-T-cell therapy after your COVID-19 vaccination(s). You may be recommended to be re-vaccinated due to loss of immunity following transplant or therapy.
People aged 6 months and older can receive a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as, or at any time before or after other routine vaccinations.
Contact your doctor or health care provider if you have questions about getting the vaccine or if the person getting vaccinated:
Read the Canadian Immunization Guide for more information.
If you’ve already had COVID-19, you should still be vaccinated for protection from reinfection or severe outcomes according to current vaccine recommendations. While infection alone provides some protection, vaccination combined with infection helps further improve the immune response.
Even if you’ve recovered from COVID-19, you are not immune and can still get the virus, be contagious while not showing any symptoms, and spread it to others in your community.
If you need to record a COVID-19 vaccine received outside of Ontario or Canada, you should contact your local public health unit.
Recording out-of-province or out-of-country doses is important to ensure future COVID-19 vaccine doses can be given safely and at the appropriate time intervals.
Out-of-province doses should be recorded if:
Other doses can be recorded at the discretion of the local public health unit.
You must provide proof, such as an immunization record, to your public health unit to be registered. The public health unit may ask for additional proof of vaccination, such as clinic or pharmacy information or travel documents such as a boarding pass.
If you applied to have your out of province vaccination(s) registered with your public health unit and are waiting to have it registered, you can call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre ( PVCC ) to book your next vaccine appointment if you fit all of these criteria:
The PVCC can be reached by phone at 1-833-943-3900 ( TTY for people who are deaf, hearing-impaired or speech-impaired the TTY number is 1-866-797-0007 ).
The information is available in more than 300 languages, Monday to Friday (excluding holidays) from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time.
Only vaccines that Health Canada has approved and determined to be safe and effective will be administered in Ontario.
COVID-19 vaccines have varying doses based on product or age of indication. You will be offered an age-appropriate and Health Canada approved vaccine based on your eligibility at the time of vaccination.
Vaccines are safe, effective, and are the best way to remain protected against COVID-19 and its variants. They are an important tool to help prevent serious illness and support the overall health and wellbeing of our children and communities.
Health Canada has approved COVID‑19 vaccines for use in children aged 6 months and older and determined that these vaccines:
Children and youth who are not up to date on other vaccines can still receive a COVID‑19 vaccine.
If your child is behind on immunizations, we encourage you to contact their health care provider to get up to date.
Children aged 6 months and older can receive a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as, or at any time before or after other routine vaccines. Parents and caregivers should discuss vaccination with their health care provider to determine the best timing for COVID-19 vaccination.
Eligible people aged 6 months and older can book an appointment through:
Public health units may also offer additional options for vaccination for children aged 6 months to 4 years old, such as walk-in clinics, which will not be on the COVID‑19 vaccination portal. For information on local options, please visit your local public health unit website.
If you identify as First Nations, Inuit or Métis, you can find information about vaccination or book an appointment to get your COVID‑19 vaccine through an Indigenous-led vaccination clinic.
(Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and
weekends 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
It’s okay to still have questions about the vaccine. If you do, you can:
For help with booking an appointment using the COVID‑19 vaccination portal or obtaining proof of vaccination, call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 , available in more than 300 languages, Monday to Friday (excluding holidays) from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time ( TTY for people who are deaf, hearing-impaired or speech-impaired: 1-866-797-0007 ).