COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions

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This page includes answers to frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccination, vaccine safety, and the latest information on Halton Region’s COVID-19 vaccination program. Don’t see an answer to your question here? You can always email accesshalton@halton.ca or call 311.

COVID-19 vaccination

What is the status of the vaccine program in Halton?

All individuals six months of age or older are eligible to be vaccinated at a Halton Region Community Vaccination clinic.

What is the role of Halton Region Public Health in vaccination?

Canada

canada.ca/covid19 (external link)

Approve vaccines for use in Canada
Procure vaccines nationally
Distribute vaccines to Provinces/Territories
Provide NACI recommendations on prioritization of administration to the Provinces/Territories

Ontario

ontario.ca/covid19 (external link)

Receive vaccine from Federal Government
Prioritize rollout across Ontario, including who gets the vaccine, when and where
Distribute vaccine to public health units, hospitals and pharmacies
Responsible for vaccine tracking, provincial booking system & call centre and healthcare records management

Halton Region

halton.ca/covid19

Receive vaccine from the Province of Ontario
Safely store and transport vaccine received from Province
Administer vaccines in accordance with the Provincially mandated prioritization framework
Coordinate with local hospitals and other healthcare providers

How did Halton Region Public Health consult with Indigenous communities and organizations to plan for the COVID-19 vaccine program?

As part of Halton’s commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, we are continuing to plan for the respectful delivery and roll out of vaccine clinics for all of the populations listed under the Province’s prioritization plan, including all First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Peoples living within Halton. Staff have consulted with Indigenous communities and organizations to solicit guidance on how best to implement the recommendations provided by the Provincial Urban Indigenous Vaccine Distribution Sub-Tables. Together with these partners, Halton Region continues to plan for opening up vaccine clinics to all Indigenous adults. This will be coordinated based on sufficient and stable receipt of vaccine allocations from the Province and made in consultation with our COVID-19 Elder Advisory Group composed of Elders and Knowledge Keepers from communities and organizations in the area, including the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, the Credit River Métis Council and Indigenous People living in Halton. We will continue to provide updates on halton.ca/COVIDvaccines.

Why should I get vaccinated?

Getting vaccinated and staying up-to-date with your COVID 19 vaccines is the best way to protect yourself, your loved ones and our communities from severe outcomes from COVID 19 and its variants. Staying up-to-date means you have completed your primary series and received a COVID-19 vaccine within the last six months. COVID-19 booster doses help restore protection that may have decrease since your last dose and keep you protected from severe illness from COVID-19.

Can I get the COVID-19 vaccine if I have had COVID-19?

Vaccination is very important, even if you have been previously infected with COVID-19. While infection alone provides some protection, vaccination after infection helps improve the immune response and may provide better and longer-lasting protection against current and future variants of the virus.

Learn more about when to get the COVID-19 vaccine if you’ve had COVID. (external link)

I have a fear of needles. What can I do to help reduce my anxiety?

Fear of needles is very common. However, it’s important that fear of needles doesn’t interfere with good health. Getting your COVID-19 vaccine is an important step to reduce your risk of developing COVID-19 symptoms.

If you are anxious about vaccinations, follow these tips (external PDF):

Eat a snack before you come to your appointment.
Get comfortable. Sit up in your chair. Make your arm loose or jiggly.
If you feel dizzy, tense your stomach and leg muscles.
Try belly breathing (pretend to blow out a candle).
Do some self-talk. Tell yourself that you can handle this!
Allow yourself to daydream while you are getting your vaccine.

Sedation is not an available option at any of our clinics.

Will COVID-19 vaccination become an annual vaccination, like the flu shot?

It is unknown if the COVID-19 vaccination will become an annual vaccination, like the flu shot. It is too early to know the duration of protection COVID-19 vaccines offer, as these vaccines are new and are still being studied.

Is vaccination mandatory in Ontario? Will I be required to show proof of vaccination?

Vaccination against COVID-19 is strongly encouraged.

Workplaces:

While the Province has lifted the proof of vaccination requirements for many settings on March 1, 2022, employers can still develop a vaccination policy for their employees. For more information, visit our Resources for Businesses webpage.

Public settings:

Effective March 1, 2022, the Province has lifted proof of vaccination requirements for all settings. Businesses and other settings may choose to continue to require proof of vaccination. Read the Province’s February 14, 2021 media release (external link) or visit the Province’s information for businesses and organizations about vaccine certificates (external link) for more information.

Learn how to get your COVID-19 enhanced vaccine certificate.

What happens if someone is unable to provide informed consent to receive the COVID-19 vaccine?

If a client 12 years of age or older is not able to provide informed consent to receive the vaccines, and requires a parent/legal guardian/substitute decision maker to provide informed consent on their behalf, a COVID-19 consent form should be completed and brought to the clinic (PDF file).

Can I get my COVID-19 vaccine sooner than the recommend interval?

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends a longer interval between doses as it has been shown to result in a better immune response and somewhat better vaccine effectiveness than shorter intervals (external PDF). Individuals 12 years of age and older may be able to receive a vaccine earlier than the recommended interval. If desired:

a second or third dose of a primary mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series can be received a minimum of 28 days after the last dose. (This minimum interval is for mRNA vaccine only).
a booster dose can be received a minimum of 3 months (84 days) after completion of a primary COVID-19 vaccine series.

How do I know if the vaccine is halal?

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.

Were the vaccines developed using fetal tissue?

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.

I have been vaccinated. Do I still need to self-isolate if I had an exposure to someone with COVID-19 while they were infectious?

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).

Should someone with allergies get the COVID-19 vaccine?

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).

What should I do if I have a reaction following a COVID-19 vaccine?

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.

Should I wait to receive another vaccine before or after my COVID-19 vaccine?

For individuals six months 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.

What are the side effects of the COVID-19 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).

Does the COVID-19 vaccine cause myocarditis/pericarditis?

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 12 to 29 years of age;
in males compared to females;
after the second dose, and
with the Moderna vaccine compared to the Pfizer vaccine.

Safety surveillance data (external link) suggests that the risk of myocarditis or pericarditis may be lower in children aged 5 to 11 compared to adolescents and young adults. Among children 5 to 11 years of age following vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech, very rare cases were reported. Myocarditis is expected to be very rare in young children.

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.

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 outweigh any potential risks. Staying up-to-date with all recommended doses reduces the risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes.

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

Boosters

Should I get a booster dose?

The protection you get from the COVID-19 vaccine may decrease over time. Immunity after an infection also decreases over time. Evidence suggests COVID-19 booster dose(s) restore protection against the virus, including against new variants of the COVID-19 virus. COVID-19 vaccine booster doses also help to increase protection against severe outcomes for individuals and helps to reduce transmission to the community. To learn more, read the Stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccine Factsheet.

What booster dose am I eligible for?

For information on vaccine eligibility and recommendations, visit Halton Region’s COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility and Recommendations page.

What is the bivalent COVID-19 booster dose?

A bivalent COVID-19 booster dose combines two types of vaccine. Included in the bivalent COVID-19 booster dose authorized by Health Canada is a vaccine that targets the original COVID-19 strain along with a second that targets the Omicron variant.

Health Canada has authorized the Moderna Spikevax bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (external link) and Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (external link). There is no preferential recommendation between Moderna Bivalent or Pfizer-BioNTech Bivalent as a bivalent booster dose for individuals 18 years of age and older.

Getting vaccinated in Halton Region

Questions about getting vaccinated in Halton Region
Questions about accessibility

I am homebound. Can I receive the vaccine at my home?

Yes. The COVID-19 in-home vaccination service is available for individuals who are homebound. Eligible residents12 years of age or older can submit a request for the COVID-19 in-home vaccination service by completing the COVID-19 in-home vaccination service form.

For more information about this program, visit COVID-19 vaccination clinic webpage.

Can I get vaccinated at my doctor's office?

Select primary care offices are offering COVID-19 vaccines to community members (please refer to our COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics webpage). Vaccine supply is limited and available by appointment only.

I am a healthcare provider and would like to provide vaccinations at my clinic. How do I arrange this?

If you’re interested in vaccinating some of your patients Halton Region Public Health can support you with infection prevention and control measures and COVax training.

Please send an email to doctors@halton.ca and Halton Region Public Health will contact your clinic to discuss administering COVID-19 vaccines in your clinic.

Will I need to pay for parking at a vaccination clinic?

No. Parking is free of charge at all Halton Region COVID-19 vaccination clinic locations.

Do I need an OHIP card or ID to receive the vaccine?

Anyone who lives, works or attends school in Halton region is eligible to be vaccinated regardless of their citizenship status or whether or not they have an Ontario Health Card.

If you do not have a health card, bring a piece of identification, or combination of documents, that include a photo, full legal name and date of birth such as:

driver’s license
piece of registered mail
pay stub
student card
other government issued identification, including out-of- province I.D.s or foreign national passports

Electronic versions of documents are accepted. Expired government issued identify documents are also accepted.

For more information, please refer to the Preparing for your vaccination appointment webpage.

Will transportation be available to and from the clinics for those requiring assistance?

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.

Which clinic should I go to if I need special accommodation?

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..

COVID-19 vaccine and pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility

Should I get a COVID-19 vaccine if I am pregnant?

Yes. Pregnant individuals and their babies have a higher risk of developing severe complications (requiring hospitalization or intensive care) and death from a COVID-19 infection compared to non-pregnant individuals. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine can help protect you and your baby from these complications.

Several studies and real-world data have not found any safety concerns for the pregnant individual or their baby.

Experts like the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) (external PDF) and National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) (external link) strongly recommend pregnant people get a complete COVID-19 vaccine series.

Should I get a COVID-19 vaccine if I am breastfeeding?

Yes. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective and highly recommended if you are breastfeeding. Antibodies made by the mother’s body after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine have been shown to pass into the breastmilk, which provides protection to your baby. It is safe to continue breastfeeding after COVID-19 vaccination.

Experts like the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) (external PDF) and National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) (external link) strongly recommend getting vaccinated while breastfeeding. It’s important to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect you and your baby.

Does the COVID-19 vaccine cause infertility?

COVID-19 vaccines do not cause male or female infertility and there is no evidence to suggest that they will cause infertility. In fact, getting fully vaccinated before you conceive will protect you and your future baby from the risk of COVID-19 in pregnancy.

Where can I find more information about COVID-19 vaccination during reproductive years?

Talk to your health care provider if you have any questions about getting the COVID-19 vaccine. More information is also available from these trusted resources:

Vaccine policies and proof of vaccination

Can my employer ask for proof of COVID-19 vaccination?

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 determined by the employer to be reasonably necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19, workplace policies can require workers to provide proof of vaccination for COVID-19.

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 employer’s decision to implement such a 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).

Workplace vaccination policies should 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).

Do I need a vaccine policy in my workplace? Can I ask my workers their vaccination status?

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.

What if some workers will not get vaccinated?

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).

Youth Vaccination Program (12-17 years old)

For FAQs related to children aged 6 months to 11 years, please visit halton.ca/COVIDvaccines4kids.

Do parents/guardians need to sign a consent form?

COVID-19 vaccines are only provided if informed consent is received from the person to be vaccinated, including those aged 12 to 17, and as long as the youth has the capacity to make this decision. This means that they understand:

what vaccination involves,
why it is being recommended; and
the risks and benefits of accepting or refusing to be vaccinated.

Even if the youth is able to provide informed consent, they should talk about this decision with their parent/guardian or an adult they trust such as a principal or a teacher.

If a youth, 12 years of age or older, is not able to provide informed consent to receive the vaccines, and requires a parent/legal guardian/substitute decision maker to provide informed consent on their behalf, a COVID-19 consent form should be completed and brought to the clinic (PDF file). To help youth and families make an informed decisions, please refer to:

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.

Where to get help if you have questions about getting vaccinated for COVID-19

Are any in-person or phone supports available to answer questions about the COVID-19 vaccine?

If you have questions or concerns about getting vaccinated for COVID-19, you can:

speak with your primary health care provider (for example, family doctor, nurse practitioner, midwife); or
connect by phone with a trained health care provider who can offer accurate information on getting vaccinated for COVID-19 as listed below.

Agency	Who this service is for	Type of support	How to book an appointment	Helpful information
Scarborough Health Network – VaxFacts (external link)	All ages	20 minute, 1:1 telephone consultation with a doctor	Book online on the Scarborough Health Network – VaxFacts website (external link) or call 416-438-2911, ext. 5738	Free to anyone living in Canada No Ontario Health Card required Language support available 7 days/week, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Hospital for Sick Kids (external link)	Youth 5 years or older Parent, caregiver, or legal guardian of a child or youth Provide support for youth/children with complex medical histories or medical conditions, including fear of needles.	Telephone consultation with a paediatric Registered Nurse	Book online on the Hospital for Sick Kids website (external link) or call 437-881-3505	Free to anyone living in Ontario No Ontario Health Card required Need to complete Intake form Language support available Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

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