
This Version Posted: June 27, 2022
Vaccines are now here in the fight against COVID-19. Please read further for more information.
- Find current COVID-19 vaccination clinics in your area.
- Walk-ins (no appointments) are now available at Health Unit-run COVID-19 vaccination clinics, as well as GO-VAXX mobile clinic sites in the area.
- COVID-19 vaccines (including fourth doses for those who are eligible) are also available at local pharmacies and from primary care providers in the region.
- Find out who is eligible for first, second, third and fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) remain the recommended ones to get.
- Have questions about COVID-19 Vaccine? Speak to a health professional
- Received COVID-19 vaccines outside of Ontario? Learn how to register them here.
- Two new COVID-19 vaccines — the Novavax and Medicago vaccines — have been approved for use in Canada. Both are more traditional vaccines (neither is mRNA based).
- To get a Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, call the Health Unit at 1-866-888-4577, ext. 5020, and leave your full name and phone number. You must be a resident of Haliburton County, Northumberland County or the City of Kawartha Lakes. You will be called back to arrange an appointment for getting the vaccine. If you live outside these regions, please contact your local health unit/department.
- The Medicago COVID-19 vaccine will soon be available for those interested in receiving a dose of this vaccine. To book an appointment for a Medicago dose, call 1-866-888-4577, ext. 5020. You must be a resident of Haliburton County, Northumberland County or the City of Kawartha Lakes (those who live outside these regions should contact their local health department).
- NOTE: The Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID vaccine will no longer be provided to clients unless they produce a doctor’s note stating there are medical reasons why they cannot get any of the other COVID vaccines.
- To learn about COVID-19 vaccine safety for children and youth, click here.
- Ontario no longer requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination to attend select non-essential businesses and indoor settings. However, if you still require proof of vaccination or a medical exemption, click here.
- Employers are also encouraged to develop and implement a workplace COVID-19 vaccination policy to help protect their employees and the public from COVID-19.
- Need a ride to your COVID-19 vaccine appointment? Click here for options in your community.
Video Resources
- COVID-19 Vaccines – A Dose of Protection – Get the facts on the vacs and why COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and worth getting.
- Help Your Child Get Ready to Be Vaccinated – Short video for parents/guardians on preparing their young child to be vaccinated.
- COVID Vaccination – Children 5-11 – Key Considerations – HKPR video includes perspectives of local parent, family physician and Medical Officer of Health on why children should be vaccinated.
- Will It Hurt to Get Vaccinated? – Helping prepare your child for vaccination
- Asking for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination – Staying Safe
On This Page:
- About COVID-19 Vaccine
- How COVID-19 Vaccines Work
- Facts on COVID-19 Vaccine
- Possible Side-Effects
- What You Can Do
- Speak to a Health Care Professional About Vaccine Concerns
- Additional Resources
- Resources for Indigenous Peoples
About COVID-19 Vaccine
- Currently, six COVID-19 vaccines are approved for use in Canada. They include: the Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) vaccine, the Spikevax vaccine developed by Moderna, the AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria) vaccine, the Janssen vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson, the Novavax (Nuvaxovid) vaccine and the Medicago Covifenz vaccine. Other vaccine candidates are also currently under review by Health Canada. The mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) continue to be the recommended ones to get to provide the best protection against COVID-19.
- Vaccines are safe, reliable and are shown to be effective against COVID-19. Health Canada uses strict safety and quality requirements for regulating and approving vaccines. These same standards were applied to the COVID-19 vaccines.
- Ontario recommends the use of the Pfizer vaccine for individuals ages 12-29 years. This is due to an observed increase in Ontario of the very rare heart condition called pericarditis/myocarditis following vaccination with Moderna compared to Pfizer in this age group. Both vaccines continue to be safe and effectives, and the risk of these heart conditions very low.
- Two COVID-19 vaccines are currently approved for use in children under 12. The Pfizer pediatric vaccine is now available for children ages 5-11. Health Canada has also recently authorized the use of the Moderna pediatric vaccine for use in children ages 6-11 years.
- If you have received a dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, click here for an After-Care Fact Sheet.
- There have been a small number of reports of pericarditis (inflammation of the lining around the heart) or myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) after getting a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in Canada. Click here to learn more in this Public Health Ontario fact sheet.
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How COVID-19 Vaccines Work
Vaccines have saved millions of lives over the past century. COVID-19 vaccines will work similarly to protect millions more. Here’s how:
- COVID vaccines work with your body’s natural defenses to build protection against coronavirus.
- It does this by telling your body to make spike proteins.
- Spike proteins are unique to the virus that causes COVID-1.9
- Your immune system responds to the spike proteins by making antibodies that can protect you against COVID-19.
The result is that you build up immunity to the virus, allowing your body to fight off COVID-19 more easily.
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Facts on COVID-19 Vaccine
- COVID-19 vaccine does not contain the coronavirus and cannot give you COVID-19. Instead, the vaccine offers a dose of protection!
- Like other vaccines, it may take several days for your body to build full immunity against COVID-19.
- This means if you come in contact with the virus just before or after you complete the vaccine series, you could still develop COVID-19. That makes it important to continue taking COVID-19 precautions until you are fully protected.
- The Ontario Medical Association also offers additional facts about COVID-19 vaccine.
- Booster doses help to offer better protection against serious illness and hospitalization due to COVID-19.
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Possible Side-Effects
- Serious adverse reactions to vaccines are rare.
- If you get any vaccine, minor side-effects may occur. These are usually mild and clear up within a few days. Some common side-effects include: pain at the site of injection (even redness and swelling), body chills, feeling tired or feeling feverish.
- Vaccines are constantly monitored for potential reactions and safety measures are put in place if needed. You can be assured COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective!
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Speak to a Health Care Professional
Make an appointment to talk with a doctor/nurse if you have questions or concerns about receiving the COVID- 19 vaccine. Access these free services:
- VaxFacts – Scarborough Health Network – Click here to book an appointment online or call 416-438-2911, ext. 5738, to speak to a doctor.
- COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service – Sick Kids’ Hospital – Families with children can click here to book an appointment to speak to a pediatric Registered Nurse. You can also call 437-881-3505.
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Additional Resources
Learn more about COVID-19 vaccine distribution, development and safety:
- HKPR District Health Unit
- For Health Care Providers
- COVID-19 Vaccine-Relevant Information and Planning Resources (including fact sheets in multiple languages) – Ontario Ministry of Health
- Government of Ontario
- What You Need to Know About COVID-19 Vaccine – Public Health Ontario
- What You Need to Know About mRNA Vaccines – Public Health Ontario
- Ontario Medical Association
- Government of Canada
- COVID-19 Vaccines
- COVID-19 Vaccine Questions: Ask the Experts Video Series – Public Health Agency of Canada
- Vaccines and Treatments for COVID-19: Progress
- Video on How Vaccines are Developed and Approved for Use in Canada
- COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines – Pfizer and Moderna
- COVID-19 Viral Vector-Based Vaccines for COVID-19 – AstraZeneca and Janssen
- COVID-19 Plant-Based Vaccines – Medicago
- COVID-19 Protein Subunit Vaccines
- World Health Organization
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Resources for Indigenous Peoples
First Nation, Inuit and Metis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members age 18+ are now eligible for a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The Province’s recommended time to get your fourth dose is five months (140 days) after your third dose (although you can get a fourth dose as early as three months, or 84 days). Here is a list of current COVID-19 vaccination clinics offered by the Health Unit in Haliburton County, Northumberland County and the City of Kawartha Lakes.
- Booster Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine for Indigenous Adults 18+ – HKPR District Health Unit Video (recording of November 12 virtual information session for Indigenous adults on COVID-19 boosters and third doses)
- Virtual Information Session on COVID-19 Vaccine for Children – Watch a recording of Dec. 3 virtual session geared to caregivers of Indigenous children. Hosted by Dr. Thomas Piggot, Medical Officer of Health, Peterborough Public Health