COVID-19 Vaccine

Getting vaccinated and staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccine doses remains the most effective way to reduce severity of symptoms and to prevent serious illness (including hospitalization and death) from COVID-19 infection. 

Fall 2024: COVID-19 vaccine is now available for all individuals in Ontario who are 6 months of age and older, at healthcare provider and pharmacy locations. COVID-19 vaccine is free of charge, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, even if you do not have an Ontario health card.

COVID-19 Vaccines - Where to Access

Individuals in Ontario will be able to receive vaccine at a participating pharmacy or at their health care provider. Call first to see if vaccine is available and if an appointment is required. 

Pharmacy Finder

NOTE: MLHU is not holding large COVID-19 vaccination clinics this year. We are vaccinating children from 6 months up to 3 years of age who can’t get vaccinated by a health care provider or pharmacy. Call 519-663-5317 to book an appointment for your child.

COVID-19 Vaccines - When to Get Your Next Dose

In alignment with the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), the Ministry of Health is recommending vaccination with an updated COVID-19 vaccine this fall, to better protect against the currently circulating variants.

Individuals should receive a vaccine dose as soon as they are eligible. Doses should be administered 6 months after the last dose of COVID-19 vaccine (3 months as a minimum). If you have had COVID-19 illness within the last 6 months or are immunocompromised, please speak with your health care provider. More information is also available here.

COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same time, same day or before or after any other vaccine dose (eg. flu vaccines, routine vaccines).

Those who are at highest risk for illness should receive a dose as soon as they are eligible.

Who is considered high-risk:

• adults 65 years of age or older
• individuals 6 months of age and older who are/have:
• residents of long-term care homes and other congregate living settings
• pregnant
• in or from First Nations, Métis or Inuit communities
• members of racialized and other equity-deserving communities
• those who have underlying medical conditions that places them at higher risk of severe COVID-19, including children with complex health needs
• priority populations including:
• children 6 months to 4 years of age
• health care workers
• first responders
• individuals with significant exposure to birds and mammals (such as poultry, livestock, slaughterhouse and processing plant workers, wildlife officers/researchers, and veterinarians)

Most individuals 5 years of age and older will require one dose of vaccine. Those who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine dose before may require more than one dose if they are immunocompromised or under the age of 4 yrs old. Speak to your health care provider to learn more. 

COVID-19 Vaccines - Products and Safety

For the fall of 2024, there will be two vaccines available in Ontario. Both have been updated to contain protection against the Omicron KP.2 variant.

• Moderna (for individuals 6 months of age and older)
• Pfizer (for individuals 12 years and older)

Vaccines have been approved by Health Canada. All products have gone through rigorous quality control and assurance testing, and have been deemed as safe and effective. 

Both COVID-19 vaccines available this year are mRNA vaccines. This means they use mRNA to teach the body’s cells how to make a protein which will cause your body to have an immune response and make antibodies. These antibodies then help fight an infection if the virus, which causes COVID-19, later enters the body. These vaccines do not contain a live virus – they cannot give you COVID-19.

NOTE: Novavax is not available in Ontario this year.

Children and Youth

Children can begin receiving COVID-19 vaccine starting at 6 months old. The vaccines are safe, effective and are the best way to remain protected your child and those closest to them from COVID-19 and its variants.

There is a lot of information available for families to consider when making decisions about the COVID-19 vaccine for children. For more information, visit:

• https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-vaccines
• https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/vaccination-children/covid-19.html
• Visit VaxFacts+ for information about booking a one-to-one phone consultation with a doctor

Parents, legal guardians and care givers can also speak to the child's health care provider or pharmacist. Public Health Nurses at the Middlesex-London Health Unit can also provide information (call 519-663-5317).

Side Effects

As with most vaccines, common side effects have been reported. These side effects are likely to be moderate and resolve after a few days. In very rare situations, some people may experience serious symptoms or an adverse reaction. For more information, visit Health Canada.

When should I see a health care provider?

There have been a small number of reports of myocarditis and pericarditis (inflammation in different parts of the heart) following immunization with an mRNA vaccine. Most cases developed within one week of vaccination, have been mild and resolved quickly. Seek medical attention right away if you develop any of the following symptoms after vaccination:

• Chest pain / feeling of pressure or tightness in your chest
• Shortness of breath
• Heart palpitations / irregular heartbeat

If you experience myocarditis or pericarditis after a dose of COVID-19 vaccine, speak with your healthcare provider or local public health unit for the most up-to-date recommendations before receiving another COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 Vaccine Certificate

To access your COVID-19 vaccine certificate, please visit: covid-19.ontario.ca/get-proof. NOTE: you will need your date of birth, postal code and health card information.

If you don't have a green Ontario Health Card or used another form of identification (e.g. Driver’s License) at the time of vaccination, or if you have questions or concerns about your vaccine certificate, please call 519-663-5317 (Monday to Friday between 8:30AM and 4:30PM).

Guidance for Individuals Vaccinated Outside of Ontario/Canada

Residents of Ontario who received COVID-19 vaccine(s) outside of Ontario/Canada, should keep any documentation or records of these personal files. These out-of province records may be accepted by employers, educational institutions, health care providers and pharmacists as proof of vaccination.

Who can report

Reporting outside of Ontario/Canada vaccines to be included in Ontario's provincial COVID-19 vaccine database (COVAXon) is recommended in some situations to ensure future doses can be given safely and at the appropriate intervals. Individuals meeting the following criteria should report their out-of-Ontario/Canada records:

• children younger than 5 years
• individuals aged 5 years and older who received 1 or more doses outside of Ontario/Canada within the last 6 months

Other records will not be added to the provincal database at this time.

How to report

Individuals who meet the above criteria can report their out-of-Ontario/Canada COVID-19 vaccine doses to be indcluded in the provincial data base through the Middlesex-London Health Unit. 

• Online reporting
• May take up to 21 days to process 
• An Ontario Health Card is not required. If you do not have an Ontario Health Card, you will be prompted to upload another piece of ID (birth certificate, driver's license, employee ID, Indian Status Card or Indigenous Membership Card, passport, or out of province health card).
• A clear photo of the enture record is required. 
• If you are unable to submit proof electronically, please call 519-663-5317 for further direction.

How to access your Ontario proof of vaccination

Once out-of-Ontario/Canada COVID-19 vaccine doses are reported and the submission has been processed, individuals with a valid Ontario Health Card can download their proof of vaccination online at Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination. Individuals without an Ontario Health Card can obtain a client ID and link to download their proof of vaccination by calling 519-663-5317 (Monday to Friday between 8:30AM and 4:30PM).

Additional information about proof of vaccination

• Ministry of Health (Ontario) - Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination