COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions

While still being studied, the COVID-19 vaccines that have been approved in Canada appear to provide protection (external link) against the variants of concern. The vaccines provide a broad immune response so virus mutations should not make vaccines completely ineffective.

Health Canada continues to monitor the effectiveness of all COVID-19 vaccines. Further research is being done to tailor the vaccines to provide enhanced protection against all variants. Health Canada announced that modified COVID-19 vaccines for variants will be made available quickly to Canadians (external link).

No approved COVID-19 vaccines have listed porcine gelatin (a substance derived from pork products commonly used to stabilize vaccines) as a non-medical ingredient.

Many faith-based communities recommend or permit COVID-19 vaccination. Among these are The Canadian Muslim Covid-19 Task Force (CMTF) (external link), The Orthodox Union and Rabbinical Council of America (external PDF), and The Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories (external PDF).

Taking the COVID-19 vaccine is a personal choice. If you are concerned about your faith based or cultural group’s guidance on vaccination, consult relevant leadership within your community or seek additional information before choosing to be vaccinated.

The COVID-19 vaccines do not contain fetal tissue. Cells grown in a lab from cells of two aborted fetuses collected in the 1970s and 1980s were used in the research and development of mRNA vaccines and during production of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (external link) has said it is acceptable to receive the COVID-19 vaccines.

Your vaccination status may affect whether you need to self-isolate. To find out if you need to self-isolate, visit ontario.ca/exposed (external link) and complete the COVID-19 self-assessment (external link).

People with a history of severe allergic reactions not related to vaccines or injectable medications—such as food, pet, venom, environmental, or latex allergies— should get vaccinated. People with a history of allergies to oral medications or a family history of severe allergic reactions may also get vaccinated.

People who experienced a severe immediate allergic reaction after a first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine may receive future doses of the same or another mRNA COVID-19 vaccine after consulting with an allergist/immunologist or another appropriate physician. See NACI’s recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines for more information (external PDF).

Future doses of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine should be received in a controlled setting with someone who is experienced in managing anaphylaxis. The individual should be observed for at least 30 minutes after vaccination. A mass vaccination clinic is not considered a controlled setting.

Visit the Health Canada web page to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines (external link).

COVID-19 vaccines are administered by trained health professionals. After your vaccination, you will be asked to stay seated for 5-15 minutes (longer for those with a history of severe allergies) to be sure you are feeling well. You will be asked to let the vaccine clinic staff know immediately if you feel unwell. Immunizing staff are trained to recognize and respond to post-vaccination reactions.

If someone experiences a reaction in the days following vaccination, they should report it to a health care professional, such as a family doctor. The reaction may or may not be caused by the vaccine. Refer to our Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine fact sheet (PDF file) to learn about allergic reactions and when to seek medical care.

Vaccines that have been authorized by Health Canada are safe, reliable and can help protect you, your family and our community from COVID-19. All COVID-19 vaccines were authorized by Health Canada after thorough and independent reviews determined that they meet stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements.

For individuals 12 years of age and older, COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same time or any time before or after another vaccine (for example, the annual flu vaccine, or other regularly scheduled vaccines).

The National Advisory Council on Immunization (NACI) has recommended that COVID-19 vaccines may be given with other vaccines (external link):

• at the same time;
• anytime before or after;
• if they are live or non-live vaccines; or
• if they are adjuvanted or unadjuvanted vaccines.

It is recommended that children 5-11 years of age wait at least 14 days before and after they receive the COVID-19 vaccine and another vaccine.

The COVID-19 vaccine, like all vaccines, may cause side effects in some people. Symptoms are usually mild and resolve after a few days. Some of the symptoms are part of the body’s response to developing immunity to a virus. Ongoing studies on the COVID-19 vaccines have found that serious side effects are rare.

The most commonly reported side effects are:

• pain at the injection site
• swelling, and colour changes in the skin (for example, red, purple) at the injection site
• tiredness
• headache
• muscle or joint pain
• chills
• mild fever

In rare cases, serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) can occur. Allergic reactions can be treated and are usually temporary. Contact your doctor if you develop any of the symptoms below. If your symptoms are severe, call 911.

• hives or itchy skin
• swelling of the face or mouth
• trouble breathing or wheezing
• serious drowsiness
• high fever (over 40°C)
• convulsions or seizures
• muscle weakness/ loss of feeling in the face
• chest pain, shortness of breath or excessive sweating
• feeling of a fast, pounding or fluttering heartbeat
• other serious symptoms (for example, “pins and needles” or numbness)

Clinical trials of Pfizer (external link) and clinical trials of Moderna (external link) third doses and real world data from Ontario (external PDF) show similar side effects from a third dose of either mRNA vaccine. Serious side effects from the booster dose are rare.

Vaccine side effects will continue to be monitored as people receive the vaccine. If you get a reaction to the vaccine, contact your health care provider who will report the side effect directly to public health. Public health will keep track of the reported side effects to make sure the vaccine continues to be safe.

Learn more about getting your COVID -19 vaccine (PDF file).

Rare cases of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the lining around the heart) have been reported following vaccination with COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Cases are usually reported within a week after vaccination, most frequently:

• in adolescents and younger adults under 30 years of age;
• in males compared to females;
• after the second dose, and
• with the Moderna vaccine compared to the Pfizer vaccine.

Rates are significantly lower in children aged 5-11 (external PDF).

The majority of people with myocarditis or pericarditis following vaccination tend to recover quickly and are treated with rest and/or anti-inflammatory medication (external PDF).

Seek medical attention right away if you develop any of the following symptoms after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine:

• chest pain;
• shortness of breath;
• heart palpitations (pounding or racing heart); or
• feeling of a rapid or abnormal heart rhythm.

Out of an abundance of caution, the Province recommends Pfizer vaccine for individuals aged 12 to 29 years old (external link). This is due to an increase of pericarditis/myocarditis following vaccination with Moderna compared to Pfizer in this age group (external PDF). Anyone aged 12 to 29 may receive Moderna, if requested.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends that people who experience myocarditis (with or without pericarditis) within six weeks of receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine should wait for more information before getting further doses (external link). These individuals may choose to get another dose of vaccine after discussing the risks and benefits with their healthcare provider. At Halton Region COVID-19 vaccination clinics, documentation from a health care provider is required to receive the next dose. Those who experience pericarditis and who either had no cardiac workup or had normal cardiac investigations can receive the next dose once they are symptom-free and at least 90 days has passed since vaccination.

Evidence continues to show that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination far outweigh any potential risks. Becoming fully vaccinated can take us one step closer to resuming many of the activities we enjoyed prior to the pandemic.

For more information, please see Halton’s Myocarditis and Pericarditis Fact Sheet (PDF file).

Halton residents are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from their vaccination appointments. If you are able, please drive yourself or make arrangements for a ride from a family member or a support person. If you will be travelling to a clinic with someone from outside of your household, please review our COVID-19 Public Health Guidelines: Car Travel for tips on how to travel safely (PDF file).

If transportation is a barrier

Residents who are unable to get to a vaccination clinic may request a no-charge ride through a local taxi service, or may book a ride through the Ontario Community Support Association (external link). Homebound individuals may be able to arrange to be vaccinated at their home, through their primary health care provider.

For more information about what transportation options may be available, see our COVID-19 vaccination clinic page.

Accommodations for individuals with disabilities can be made at our vaccination clinics. Some clinics may be better equipped for certain accommodations than others. If you will need a disability related accommodation (for example, American Sign Language interpretation, the use of an assistive device, access to a quiet room) at the clinic, please call 311 or email accesshalton@halton.ca to find out which clinic is best to attend..

While proof of vaccination requirements have been lifted for all settings in Ontario as of March 1, 2022, employers may continue to implement a vaccination policy for employees. Vaccination policies for workers are separate from proof of vaccination requirements for patrons.

Halton’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Hamidah Meghani, has recommended that all local employers address the need for a workplace vaccination policy to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

When the employer determines that it is reasonable and necessary, workplace policies can require workers to provide proof of vaccination to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Other workplaces may encourage but not require vaccination. An employer may set different rules or requirements for unvaccinated workers (for example, use of additional personal protective equipment, worker relocation and modified work or reassignments, etc.).

An employer’s decision to implement a workplace vaccination policy, and the details of that policy, may be informed by a number of factors such as the type of workplace and the risks it presents for transmitting COVID-19, the work of the workers and consideration of the duty to accommodate (if applicable).

A vaccination policy in the workplace should be in writing and adhere to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (external link), the Ontario Human Rights Code (external link) and privacy laws (external link).

All residents who have been vaccinated in Ontario are able to access proof of their vaccination through the provincial vaccination website (external link).

For more information on workplace vaccination policies, visit Public Health COVID-19 Guidance for Businesses.

Your workplace vaccination policy should address this issue.

In some workplaces vaccination may be mandatory, meaning that workers must provide proof of vaccination subject only to the employer’s obligation to provide accommodation under Ontario’s Human Rights Code. Other workplaces may encourage but not require vaccination. An employer may establish different rules or requirements for unvaccinated workers, (for example, use of additional personal protective equipment, worker relocation and modified work or reassignments etc.).

Your decision to implement a workplace vaccination policy, and the details of that policy, may be informed by a number of factors such as the type of workplace and the risks it presents for transmitting COVID-19, the work of the workers and consideration of the duty to accommodate (if applicable).

A vaccination policy in the workplace should be in writing and adhere to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (external link), the Ontario Human Rights Code (external link) and privacy laws (external link).

Yes. Youth who are not up-to-date on other vaccines can still receive a COVID-19 vaccine. They are encouraged to contact their health care provider to get up-to-date with their other vaccines as soon as possible.

COVID-19 vaccines do not need to be reported to public health. If you or your child received a COVID-19 vaccine in Ontario, it is already recorded in the province’s COVID-19 immunization data base and you do not need to submit additional proof.

Parents/guardians of children/students living in Halton should report all routine immunizations (e.g. MMR, whooping cough, polio, meningitis) through the online immunization reporting tool (external link). Please do not report COVID vaccines through this online tool.