COVID-19 Vaccines

Please check with your local pharmacy regarding the availability of COVID-19 vaccines and to see what products are available. Contact the pharmacy directly to book an appointment.

To find a pharmacy near you, use the pharmacy locator tool (external link).

Children 6 months of age and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised (due to an underlying condition or treatment) can receive the COVID-19 vaccine at a participating pharmacy or primary care office.

If the pharmacy or primary care office cannot provide the vaccine, please call 311.

Residents are encouraged to get their COVID-19 vaccines wherever they receive their influenza vaccine, such as at participating pharmacies or their primary care provider. The COVID-19 vaccination service for homebound residents is available to Halton residents who are unable to leave their homes. To be eligible for this service, the person must be unable to physically leave their home or leaving home requires a considerable effort. For example, the person normally does not leave their home on their own (with or without support) to access medical, public, or social services.

Eligible residents can submit a request for this service by completing the COVID-19 Vaccination Service for Homebound Residents – service form.

This form can be completed by a:

• eligible Halton resident or substitute decision maker
• physician or health care provider
• congregate living administrator

This is not a rapid referral program.

Halton Region Public Health will contact applicants within two to four weeks of receiving an application.

Lack of access to transportation does not define an individual as homebound. There are a range of safe and reliable transportation options, including special transit services for older adults and people with disabilities.

For more information on transportation options available, please visit Transportation Options for Older Adults.

Call and talk to a professional

• The Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre: speak to an experienced agent or health specialist at 1-833-943-3900 (TTY for people who are deaf, hearing-impaired or speech-impaired: 1-866-797-0007), available in more than 300 languages, Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed on weekends and holidays.
• Scarborough Health Network – VaxFacts: Book online on the Scarborough Health Network – VaxFacts website (external link) or call 416-438-2911, ext. 5738.
• Email accesshalton@halton.ca or call 311 to speak to a public health nurse.

• Call and talk to a professional
• The Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre: speak to an experienced agent at 1-833-943-3900 (TTY for people who are deaf, hearing-impaired or speech-impaired: 1-866-797-0007), available in more than 300 languages, Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed on weekends and holidays.
• Scarborough Health Network – VaxFacts: Book online on the Scarborough Health Network – VaxFacts website (external link) or call 416-438-2911, ext. 5738.
• Email accesshalton@halton.ca or call 311 to speak to a public health nurse.
• Read up or watch the latest videos
  • SickKids COVID-19 Learning Hub (external link)
  • Caring for Kids: COVID-19 vaccines for children and youth (external link) (Information from Canadian Paediatric Society)
• How to prepare your child
  • Immunize Canada - CARD for Parents (external link)
  • Healthy Choices, Healthy Children: Tips for Parents for a Positive Immunization Experience fact sheet (external link)
  • Comfort Holds Poster (PDF file)

Experts like the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) and National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) strongly recommend those that are pregnant or breastfeeding to get a complete COVID-19 vaccine series. 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:

• COVID-19 vaccine: Canadian Immunization Guide (external link), please refer to the "Pregnancy and breastfeeding" section
• Ontario Ministry of Health: COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy (external link)
• Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada:
  • COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnancy Understanding the risks of COVID-19 while pregnant (external link)

• Individuals 6 months and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised are recommended to receive additional dose(s) as part of their primary series depending on their immunization history. Speak to your healthcare provider and visit the Ministry’s COVID-19 Vaccine webpage (external link) for more information.
• The vaccine you will receive will depend on your age, medical and immunization history and the vaccine available. You will receive a Health Canada approved, age-appropriate vaccine.
• Get the latest information on COVID-19 vaccine doses and eligibility (external link).

• Although COVID-19 symptoms in children can be mild, some develop more severe symptoms or require hospitalization, even without underlying health conditions.
• Children can continue to have symptoms long after a COVID-19 infection has cleared.
• Some children can develop other complications from COVID-19 beyond the infection itself, including a rare but serious condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C).
• COVID-19 infection can impact daily routines and can have an impact on children’s mental, social and emotional health.
• Children who have underlying medical conditions are strongly recommended to stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations.

• All COVID-19 vaccines authorized in Canada are proven to be safe, effective and of high quality.
• The vaccines were tested in clinical trials for children. The clinical trials found the vaccine was safe for children, just as we know it is safe in adults and adolescents. The risk of serious side effects from the vaccines is very low. Children who have underlying medical conditions are strongly recommended to stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations.
• There are rare cases when the vaccine should not be given to children including children who:
  • have a fever, are sick with COVID-19 symptoms, currently have COVID-19 or have been instructed to self-isolate; or
  • have an allergy to an ingredient in the vaccine or have had a previous severe reaction to this vaccine. Visit Health Canada’s Vaccines for COVID-19 webpage for a list of COVID-19 vaccine ingredients (external link)

Some children experience mild side effects such as red arm, tiredness, chills and muscle/joint pain. These side effects go away after a few days, and are similar to other routine childhood vaccinations. In children six months to two years of age, the most common side effects reported were irritability/crying, pain, sleepiness and loss of appetite. Serious side effects such as anaphylaxis or severe allergy are rare. Long term side effects are not expected from COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. mRNA vaccines have been studied in humans since 2013 with no known long-term effects.

If you live in Halton and have received COVID-19 vaccine doses outside of Ontario or Canada, you can report this information to Halton Region Public Health.

For more information on who should report out-of-province doses please visit the Ministry’s COVID-19 Vaccine webpage (external link).

Please bring your COVID-19 vaccination records with you to get your COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccination records must be in English, or you must have a certified translation into English. Vaccine receipts must include your name, date of vaccination, type of vaccine and dose. For information on how to include your out-of-province vaccinations in your Ontario vaccination certificate, please see Report an out-of-province COVID-19 vaccination below.

View a list of COVID-19 vaccines approved by Health Canada (external link)

If you live in Halton and received a COVID-19 vaccine outside of Ontario or Canada, report this information to Halton Region Public Health. This information must be verified before you can access your vaccine certificate with a QR code. The information you submit will be assessed within three weeks and, if needed, you will receive further instructions by email.

How to get your next dose:

Visit a pharmacy, primary health care provider or other vaccination clinic – Before attending a pharmacy or primary care provider to get your COVID-19 vaccine, you must first report any out-of-province vaccination records for your primary series using the button below. After you receive confirmation that your records have been verified, you can get your COVID-19 vaccine at any participating pharmacy, primary care office or other vaccination clinic. Find locations offering the COVID-19 vaccine.

Report your out-of-province COVID-19 vaccination records.

Businesses and organizations may voluntarily choose to check for proof of vaccination. Individuals may also be required to show proof of vaccination when travelling within and outside of Canada. For more information, visit Ontario.ca/proofofvaccination (external link).

Use the Provincial tool to find out how to get your enhanced vaccine certification (external link). You can save an electronic copy to your mobile phone or print a copy with your QR code.

If you received a COVID-19 vaccine outside of Ontario and need an enhanced vaccine certificate, you must first have your proof of vaccination verified by Halton Region Public Health. Learn about what type of vaccination records are accepted and report your out-of-province COVID-19 vaccination records to be verified.

If you don't have a health card (this does not include lost or stolen health cards), email accesshalton@halton.ca or call 311 to receive a COVID ID (identification will be verified). A COVID ID is a unique number assigned to you by your public health unit (in place of an Ontario health card number) that can be used to obtain a copy of your vaccine certificate. You can then call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 and you will be emailed a secure link to access your vaccine certificate.

In general, there are few situations where someone meets the criteria for a medical exemption to COVID-19 vaccination. Most people can safely receive COVID-19 vaccines.

For information on how to receive proof of a medical exemption, visit the Ministry of Health’s Proof of COVID-19 vaccination (external link).