Which Vaccines can you get?
Vaccines can be safely mixed for a first and second dose. To ensure maximum protection, you are encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as you can and to receive your second dose within the recommended interval.
How to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment
The easiest way to get a vaccine is to see if there’s a participating Shoppers Drug Mart near you. Alternatively, enter some information here to find out how you can schedule your vaccine appointments.
Third Dose (Booster)
For the general population, two doses of the COVID-19 vaccines provide strong protection against severe illness and hospitalization. This includes protection against the Delta variant of concern.
Vaccinating Your Kids
COVID-19 vaccines help the body fight off the virus. Like adults, children and youth are well protected against severe illness 14 days after their second dose. Those who have already had COVID-19 should still get vaccinated…
Bivalent Vaccines
On September 1st, 2022, Health Canada approved the Moderna Spikevax Bivalent (50 mcg) COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose in adults ≥ 18 years of age. The bivalent vaccine like the regular Moderna vaccine is a mRNA vaccine, created with equal parts of the original SARS-COV 2 mRNA and the Omicron BA. 1 variant. It can be taken 3-6 months after the last dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
In October 2022, Health Canada approved the Pfizer BioNtech-Cominarty Bivalent vaccine (30 mcg) as a booster for people ≥ 12 years of age. This vaccine is composed of the mRNA of the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariant. This booster has been seen to trigger a strong immune response, with similar potential side effects as the original Pfizer vaccine, with mostly mild side effects.
Recently, Canada has seen an increase in SARS COVID-19 infections, with most attributed to the Omicron BA. 4 and BA. 5 subvariant. While original vaccination is still shown to have a strong protective effect against the virus, hospitalization, and severe disease, bivalent vaccines have been seen to have a more robust response and increased immunity to these sub-variants of the SARS COV-2 virus.
So far, studies have shown the bivalent vaccine to have the same possible reactions as the original Moderna vaccine. Also, there were no cases of severe reactions to the vaccine, such as myocarditis, pericarditis, or any deaths.
The National Advisory Committee of Immunization had recommended that the Moderna Spikevax Bivalent (50 mcg) COVID-19 vaccine may be offered as a booster dose to adolescents aged 12 and up if they are considered to be moderate to severely immunocompromised.
To learn more about this decision, please go to this link: Recommendations on the use of bivalent Omicron-containing mRNA COVID-19 vaccines
Starting September 27th, 2022, Ontarians are eligible to receive the Moderna Spikevax Bivalent (50 mcg) COVID-19 vaccine. To book an appointment, please go to the provincial COVID-19 vaccination portal, call 1-833-943-3900 (Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre), or contact participating healthcare providers or pharmacies.
