Vaccines for COVID-19: How to get vaccinated

Updated COVID-19 vaccines have been approved by Health Canada and are available for use. Contact your local public health unit for more information on vaccine recommendations and to book an appointment.

On this page

• Current recommendations
• Book a vaccination appointment
• Benefits of vaccination
• When to consult with your health care provider

Current recommendations

People who are at increased risk of infection or severe illness from COVID-19 should receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine. This applies whether you were or weren't previously vaccinated. You're at increased risk if you're:

• 65 years of age and older
• 6 months of age and older and you're:
  • a resident of a long-term care home or other group living setting
  • have an underlying medical condition, including those who are immunocompromised
  • pregnant
  • from a First Nations, Métis or Inuit community
  • a member of a racialized or other equity-deserving community
  • provide essential community services

Those who aren't at risk and who are 6 months of age and older may also receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine.

Learn more:

• People who are at risk of more severe disease or outcomes from COVID-19

Timing of vaccination

It's recommended you receive your COVID-19 vaccine 6 months after your last dose. A shorter interval of at least 3 months from the last dose may be used.

If you've recently had COVID-19

It's safe to receive a COVID-19 vaccine following infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. While infection provides some protection against future infection, vaccination after infection:

• helps improve the immune response
• provides better and longer-lasting protection

Evidence suggests that waiting a period of time after infection with the COVID-19 virus before getting the COVID-19 vaccine may help improve the immune response.

If you've had a recent test confirming you were infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, you may consider delaying your COVID-19 vaccination as follows.

• If you've been previously vaccinated, an interval of at least 3 to 6 months from time of infection to vaccination may be considered.
• If you've not been previously vaccinated, the interval to consider waiting from infection to vaccination is:
  • 8 weeks for those who aren't immunocompromised
  • 4 to 8 weeks for those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised

If you think you might have recently had COVID-19

You may not have taken a test confirming infection or may be unsure if you've been recently infected. In this case, you may receive the vaccine any time if you weren't previously vaccinated. If you've been previously vaccinated, you may receive the updated vaccine if it's been 3 to 6 months after you received your last COVID-19 vaccine dose.

There are no known safety risks with receiving a COVID-19 vaccine after having a recent infection.

Book a vaccination appointment

Book an appointment through your province or territory:

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Nunavut
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Quebec
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon

Availability of COVID-19 vaccines

Provinces and territories design and deliver their own vaccination programs. As a result, availability may differ by region. Most areas now have updated COVID-19 vaccines available.

Vaccinations may be available from a number of locations, including:

• pharmacies
• public health clinics
• health care provider offices

For specific recommendations in your region and locations to be vaccinated, contact your local public health unit.

Book a vaccination appointment

Learn more:

• COVID-19: How provinces and territories make decisions about how, who and when to vaccinate

Benefits of vaccination

COVID-19 vaccination may reduce your risk of becoming infected. If you do become infected, having been vaccinated before infection reduces the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death.

Vaccination may also help to decrease the risk of developing symptoms of post COVID-19 condition (long COVID). Post COVID-19 condition is when people still experience symptoms of COVID-19 for weeks or months after their initial infection.

Information on the benefits of vaccination in preventing post-COVID-19 condition continue to be monitored.

Learn more:

• Post COVID-19 condition (long COVID)
• COVID-19: Vaccine safety and side effects

When to consult with a health care provider

Consult with a health care provider if you:

• have questions or concerns about COVID-19 vaccination
• are unsure if or when you should receive a COVID-19 vaccine
• are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19

Related links

• The facts about COVID-19 vaccines (poster)
• COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Canada
• COVID-19 vaccines for children and youth