COVID‑19 Vaccine Program

Overview

The COVID-19 vaccine program offers COVID-19 vaccines free of charge to all individuals 6 months of age and older in Ontario at no cost, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, even if you do not have an Ontario health card.

Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine program aims to ensure as many Ontarians as possible are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines for the purposes of protecting individuals against severe COVID-19 disease, including hospitalization and death.

At this time, the evolutionary trajectory of SARS-CoV-2 and seasonality of COVID-19 has not been fully established. However, based on previous years and consistent with other respiratory viruses, an increase in COVID-19 activity is expected during the fall, winter and spring.

Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine program has transitioned to an annual program, starting in the fall, similar to the Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP). This decision was made based on provincial epidemiology and in accordance with the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) Guidance on the use of COVID-19 vaccines for 2025 to summer 2026.

In the fall, unimmunized individuals 6 months of age or older and those who have not completed their primary series are recommended to finish their primary series. All other individuals 6 months of age or older are recommended to receive 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the fall.

In the spring, previously immunized high-risk populations who have completed their primary series should receive an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Patients who are high-risk may start or complete their initial series in the spring if needed. Individuals who are not high-risk can begin or complete their primary series in the fall.

Health equity remains a cornerstone and a priority of Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine program. Sustained, culturally safe and community centred efforts need to be prioritized to:

• ensure ongoing access to vaccines for Indigenous, racialized and marginalized populations disproportionately affected by COVID-19 due to disparities in the social determinants of health including systemic barriers to accessing health care
• promote people staying up to date with their COVID -19 vaccines

Vaccination against COVID-19 is important given the potential outcomes of infection and for co-circulation of other respiratory diseases (such as influenza and RSV). Preventing COVID-19 is important to:

• protect individual health and the health of families and communities
• protect and mitigate impacts on our health care system

The documents below provide guidance to health care providers on administering COVID-19 vaccines.

General immunization documents for immunizers and vaccine clinics

Contact information

Contact your local public health unit for questions regarding vaccine storage and handling, vaccine ordering or local distribution.

Disclaimer

If you require this information in an alternative format, please contact infoline.moh@ontario.ca. We will:

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