The vaccines are free for everyone. For people without a health card, government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, passport, Status Card, etc., can be used.
The Pfizer vaccine is licensed for use in people 16 years of age and older, including seniors. The Moderna vaccine is licensed for use in people 18 years of age and older.
Consult with your health care provider, if you:
are younger than 16 years of age (but between 12 to 15 years old);
are pregnant, want to become pregnant soon after vaccination, or breastfeeding;
have a autoimmune disorder or weakened immune system due to illness or treatment; or
have a bleeding problem, bruise easily.
Your health care provider will review the benefits and risks for your unique situation.
Limited doses of the vaccine available for health care workers in hospitals, long-term care homes and retirement homes, other congregate care settings and remote Indigenous communities.
(December 15, 2020 - Early Winter)
Pilot
Two pilot sites will begin vaccinating 2500 healthcare workers at University Health Network and the Ottawa Hospital using Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
Recipients: healthcare workers from long-term care homes and hospitals
Additional Doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
90,000 doses are expected to arrive between December 2020 and January 2021 and will be going to hospital sites in Red and Lockdown Zones
Recipients: healthcare workers of long-term care and retirement homes, hospitals, and other congregate settings for seniors
First batch of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
Approximately 53,000 doses are expected to arrive in Ontario by end of December 2020
Recipients: residents of long-term care homes, retirement homes, hospitals, and congregate living settings for seniors in lockdown areas
Expanding beyond the pilot: January 2021 and beyond
Expansion of 21 hospital sites administering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for healthcare workers and residents of long-term care and retirement homes
Recipients: health care workers, essential caregivers, long-term care home and retirement home residents, First Nation communities, and urban Indigenous populations, including Métis and Inuit.
Increasing stock of vaccines, available to all health care workers, residents in long-term care homes, retirement homes, home care patients with chronic conditions and additional Indigenous communities.
(Late Winter 2021)
More doses become available to Ontario
Pending consultation, vaccinations will be expanded to:
all members of the groups in phase 1
additional congregate care settings (for example, shelters)
Vaccines available widely across Ontario for anyone who wants to be immunized
(When vaccines and doses are available)
Ontario will enter phase three when vaccines are available for everyone who wants to be immunized. The ethical framework, data and available vaccine supply will help to prioritize groups in this phase.
(Source: Health Canada) This video explains the vaccine development process and how it is possible to achieve a COVID-19 vaccine, with significant domestic and international collaboration, in a much shorter period of time.
The safety of vaccines is carefully monitored, starting early in the product development and continuing for as long as the vaccine is being used. Health Canada’s independent drug authorization process is recognized around the world for its high standards and rigorous review. Decisions are based only on scientific and medical evidence showing that vaccines are safe and effective. The benefits must also outweigh any risks. For more information see Health Canada Vaccines and treatments for COVID-19.
At this time Algoma Public Health has not received word on when a vaccine will be available for local use. Until vaccines are widely available, it remains important to take steps to protect yourself, your loved ones and our community against COVID-19. This includes staying home as much as possible, keep two metres (six feet) distance from others, wearing your mask and washing your hands often.
Algoma Public Health will continue to provide updates as the situation changes.
Throughout the planning process Algoma Public Health has been working closely with its community partners across multiple sectors to ensure a safe and coordinated rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine to Algoma-area residents. We have been working with representatives from: Ontario Health North, Algoma Ontario Health Team, Algoma’s Family Health Teams and nurse practitioner-led clinics, each of Algoma’s four hospitals, Algoma’s 21 municipalities, health partners from First Nation communities and health organizations, each of Algoma’s Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes and UIIP participating pharmacies.
A complete list based on sub-region can be found below:
The COVID-19 vaccine aims to prevent illness and limit transmission of the virus. As of December 9, 2020, the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech has been approved by Health Canada for use in individuals aged 16 years and older with some exceptions. As of December 23, 2020, the COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna has been approved by Health Canada for use in individuals 18 and older with some exceptions. Several COVID-19 vaccines developed by other pharmaceutical companies are still undergoing approvals. Learn more about the vaccine from the Government of Canada.
Who will be able to get vaccinated first?
Since there will be limited supply in the first few months of the vaccine program, some groups will be able to get a COVID-19covid 19 vaccine in the early phases.
Early doses of the vaccine will be available for:
residents, staff, essential caregivers (including family caregivers) and other employees who work in congregate living settings providing care for seniors as they are at higher risk of infection and serious illness from COVID-19covid 19
health care workers, including hospital employees, other staff who work or study in hospitals and other health care personnel
adults in First Nations, Métis and Inuit populations where infection can have disproportionate consequences, including those living in remote or isolated areas where risk of transmission is high
adult recipients of chronic home health care
As further information becomes available from clinical trials and from Health Canada approvals, the groups for which the vaccines are authorized for use could change.
Ontario will also prioritize regions with the highest rates of COVID-19covid 19 infection – those in the Red - Control and Grey - Lockdown zones when we receive the vaccines.
Who should not get the vaccine?
People who have allergies to the COVID-19 vaccine ingredients should not be vaccinated.Talk to your doctor or health care provider if you are unsure.
People who have had a serious allergic reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine (first dose) should not receive a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Right now, the following people should not routinely be offered the COVID-19 vaccine. If you believe you would benefit from being vaccinated talk to your doctor or health care provider.
Under 16
Pregnant women or those trying to get pregnant
People who are breastfeeding
People with compromised immune systems or autoimmune diseases
You should wait to get the vaccine if you are sick, have COVID-19 or got different vaccine in the past two weeks.
Will I have to pay for the vaccine?
No. Federal, provincial and territorial governments will work together to ensure that Canadians have equitable access to publicly funded pandemic vaccines for COVID-19.
Will the vaccine be mandatory?
No. This vaccine will not be mandatory in Ontario, however highly recommended for all eligible individuals. A record of immunization of COVID-19 vaccine may be required for travel, employment or other purposes.
I have heard that the COVID-19 vaccine was approved quickly. Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe?
Yes, the COVID-19 vaccine is safe for use in approved populations. Due to the ongoing pandemic, Health Canada conducted an expediated, or rolling, approval process. This means that the vaccine was evaluated for safety and efficacy while it was being developed, and again when it was finalized. Though faster, all of the components of a routine approvals process were addressed.
If I have had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need the vaccine?
Yes. There is some evidence to suggest that natural immunity from a COVID-19 illness may not last very long. It is best to get the vaccine to stay protected.
How is the vaccine administered?
The vaccine is given as a needle in the upper arm and will require two doses given 21 days apart.
What is the shot like?
The vaccine is provided in 2 doses by a needle in the upper arm. You should get the first dose as soon as possible and your second dose in 3-4 weeks – instructions will be provided to you. You get some protection after the first dose and the most after getting both doses.
What are the common side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine?
The most common side effects are mild to moderate. They include pain at the injection site, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, chills and fever.
Even if you experience mild side effects, it is important to receive the second dose. You may get the same side effects with your second dose.
Can you get COVID-19 from the vaccine?
You cannot get COVID-19 infection from the vaccine. The vaccine is not a live vaccine that does not cause the disease they are designed to prevent.
Will people need to get the vaccine every year or is it just the two doses?
At this time, the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine will only be administered in two doses, 21 days apart. And the Moderna, 28 days apart.
Can I still get the vaccine if I have existing health conditions (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, hepatitis, HIV)?
Yes. People with stable health conditions, including HIV, may be vaccinated with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as long they are not on medications that weaken the immune system. This also includes people with stable hepatitis B or C.
Do I need to continue to follow public health measures once I have received the vaccine?
Yes - continue to follow the advice of public health officials to prevent COVID-19, such as wearing a mask, and maintaining a physical distance of 2 metres from people outside of your household.
I have heard there are new strains of the COVID-19 virus. Is there information about the effectiveness of the existing vaccine on the new strain?
Currently, experts believe the vaccine will work with the new strain. There is no evidence to suggest that the vaccine will not be effective against the new strain, however this is currently being explored through studies.
What is an mRNA vaccine and how does it work?
In general, messenger ribonucleic acid, or mRNA, tells our cells which proteins to make. The COVID-19 vaccine is an mRNA vaccine and it tells our cells to make proteins that are part of the coronavirus. These proteins are called “spike proteins”. Once made, spike proteins are recognized by our immune system as foreign and our system starts to create antibodies to clear our bodies of this foreign material. The immune system removes the mRNA from the vaccine and destroys the spike proteins with antibodies. Our immune system also remembers this foreign material. This means that if someone receives the COVID-19 vaccine, develops an immune response, and then gets the virus, their immune cells will be able to recognize and destroy the viruses before they can make the person sick.
Although COVID-19 mRNA (Health Canada) vaccines are new for use, mRNA vaccines are not unknown, researchers have been studying and working with them for decades. For more information, please watch the videos linked below:
We all have mRNA in our bodies. It instructs our cells how to make proteins. This vaccine uses mRNA that contains the instructions for your cells to create the spike protein found on the surface of the COVID-19 virus, without actually causing infection. When the spike protein is displayed on the surface of the cells, our immune system recognizes that the protein doesn’t belong in our body and creates antibodies for it. If you are exposed to COVID-19 after being immunized, the antibodies will recognize the virus, and know to attack before it causes infection.
Can I get COVID-19 from the vaccine and will it change my DNA?
No, the vaccine does cannot change your DNA in any way.
What are the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine ingredients? Does it contain mercury, formaldehyde, aluminum, or fetal cells?
No. It does not contain mercury, formaldehyde, aluminum, or fetal cells
