COVID‑19 vaccines
Learn about Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccination program and how to book a vaccine.
Overview
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).
Who can get vaccinated
COVID-19 vaccines are available to everybody aged 6 months and older in Ontario.
Learn about when you should get your next dose.
The vaccine is available:
- 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:
- a driver’s licence or Ontario photo card
- a passport
- a piece of registered mail, pay stub, student card, library card
- government issued identification from other jurisdictions (including foreign and expired government documents)
When you should get your next dose
The ministry of health is recommending that everyone receive a COVID-19 vaccine this fall.
In alignment with the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), we recommend vaccination with an updated COVID-19 vaccine to better protect against the currently circulating variants.
If you have received the updated COVID-19 vaccine since September 30, 2024, another dose is not recommended at this time.
It is safe and convenient to receive both the COVID-19 and annual flu shots at the same time, reducing the need for multiple visits to a doctor, nurse practitioner or local pharmacy. Learn more about the flu and where to get your free flu vaccine.
Learn about when you should get your next dose, including if you:
- have completed your initial series of COVID-19 vaccinations
- have not yet completed your initial series
- are immunocompromised
- have had COVID-19
- haven’t had previous COVID-19 vaccinations
If you have completed your initial series of COVID-19 vaccinations
If you already completed your initial series, you can receive a dose this fall if it has been 6 months (168 days) since your last dose.
If you have not completed your initial series
If you have not completed your initial series (series of vaccinations designed to give a primary antibody response), you should consult with a health care provider or contact the Provincial Vaccine Contact at
As indicated by NACI, people who are considered to be moderately to severely immunocompromised are recommended to receive additional dose(s) to complete their initial series.
If you’re immunocompromised
As indicated by NACI, if you are considered to be moderately to severely immunocompromised, it is recommended that you:
- receive an additional dose(s) when completing your initial series
- receive a dose this fall if it has been 6 months (168 days) since your last dose
People with the following conditions are considered to be moderately to severely immunocompromised:
- solid tumour or hematologic malignancies or treatments for these conditions
- solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy
- hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy)
- immunocompromised due to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy targeting lymphocytes
- moderate to severe primary immunodeficiency with associated humoral and/or cell-mediated immunodeficiency or immune dysregulation
- HIV with AIDS-defining illness or TB diagnosis in last 12 months before starting vaccine series, or severe immune compromise with CD4 ‹ 200 cells/µL or CD4
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.
If you’ve had a COVID-19 infection
If you’ve had COVID-19, you should still be vaccinated for protection from reinfection or severe outcomes. While infection alone provides some protection, receiving the COVID-19 vaccine when recommended helps further improve the immune response.
The guidelines below are the intervals between doses for those who may have recently had COVID-19 infection. If a test was not used, please refer to the last time you received at dose.
- If you’ve completed your initial series, you can get a dose this fall if it’s been 6 months (168 days) since a positive test or your last dose.
- If you’ve had no previous COVID-19 vaccinations or are completing your initial series, you should wait 2 months (56 days) following a positive test or last dose (if applicable).
- If you’ve had no previous COVID-19 vaccinations or are completing your initial series and are immunocompromised, you should wait 1-2 months (28-56 days) following a positive test or last dose (if applicable).
People with complex care needs should speak with a healthcare provider for more information on when to get their next dose following a COVID infection.
If you haven’t had previous vaccinations
Infants and children aged 6 months to 4 years with no previous COVID-19 vaccinations and who are not immunocompromised may use a 2-dose series of a COVID vaccine. 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.
As indicated by NACI, people who are considered to be moderately to severely immunocompromised are recommended to receive additional dose(s) to complete their initial series.
Where you can get vaccinated
Eligible people aged 6 months and older can book an appointment through:
- participating pharmacies
- the COVID‑19 vaccination portal
- 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 ) - public health units using their own booking system
- participating primary care providers
- Indigenous-led vaccination clinics
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.
Indigenous-led clinics
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.
| Service area | Organization | Booking options |
|---|---|---|
| Provincewide | Indigenous Primary Health Care Council | Online: find your nearest Aboriginal Health Access Centre |
| Ottawa and surrounding regions | Akausivik Inuit Family Health Team | Online: find booking and eligibility information Phone: |
| Ottawa | Ottawa Public Health and Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health | Phone: (Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and |
| Thunder Bay | Ontario Native Women’s Association, Mindimooyenh Vaccination Clinic | Online: complete the online registration form Phone: |
| Toronto and surrounding areas | Auduzhe, Anishnawbe Health Toronto and partnered clinics | Online: find a list of clinics and booking information Phone: |
When you should consult your doctor before getting the vaccine
Contact your doctor or health care provider if you have questions about getting the vaccine or if the person getting vaccinated:
- is immunocompromised due to disease or treatment (to discuss optimal timing for vaccination)
- has had a severe allergic reaction after a COVID-19 vaccination or has an allergy to a component of the COVID-19 vaccine
Read the Canadian Immunization Guide for more information.
If you were vaccinated outside of Ontario
If you need to record a COVID-19 vaccine received outside of Ontario or Canada, you should contact your local public health unit.
Out-of-province doses should be recorded if:
- a child is younger than 5 years old and has received 1 or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine outside of Ontario to ensure they have completed the appropriate number of doses for optimal protection
- you are aged 5 years and older and have received 1 or more doses outside of Ontario within the last 6 months, to ensure future doses (if needed) can be given at the appropriate interval
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:
- you have an Ontario health card or COVID ID (a unique number assigned to you by your public health unit in place of an Ontario health card number)
- your public health unit uses the provincial booking system
- you can bring your out of province vaccination receipts to your vaccination appointment for validation
The PVCC can be reached by phone at
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.
Vaccine types
Only vaccines that Health Canada has approved for use will be administered in Ontario. All COVID-19 vaccines:
- are safe, effective and manufactured with rigorous quality control and assurance
- show a strong immune response and prepare the immune system to fight against COVID-19 and its variants
- significantly decrease the risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 infection
- significantly decrease the risk of longer-term illness from multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) or adults (MIS-A), a rare but serious condition that can occur in the weeks following COVID-19 infection
COVID-19 vaccines have varying doses based on an individual’s age and immune status for those that have not previously received COVID-19 vaccines. You will be offered an age-appropriate and Health Canada approved vaccine based on your eligibility at the time of vaccination.
Learn more about protection from respiratory illnesses.
Learn more about the vaccines from Health Canada.
Vaccines for children and youth
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.
It will not interfere with getting other 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.
Learn more about vaccines for children at school.
Get general vaccine information
It’s okay to still have questions about the vaccine. If you do, you can:
- visit Health811 online or call
811 (TTY:1-866-797-0007 toll free) for health advice and information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - contact your local public health unit
- book a phone appointment with the VaxFacts Clinic to speak with a trusted physician from the Scarborough Health Network at shn.ca/vaxfacts
- talk to your child’s family doctor, pediatrician or nurse practitioner, for those that are parents or guardians
Help with the COVID‑19 vaccination portal or obtaining proof of vaccination
For help with booking an appointment using the COVID‑19 vaccination portal or obtaining proof of vaccination, call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at
Please note that the Verify Ontario App is no longer available and third-party applications may not be able to properly read vaccine certificate QR codes.
The use of the COVID-19 vaccine certificates with QR codes are no longer required in Ontario. However, businesses and organizations may voluntarily continue to request vaccine certificates. If you have any questions about policies put in place by private businesses or organizations, please reach out to them directly.