Book your COVID-19 Vaccine Online Through MyMedcan.

A COVID-19 booster is a dose of the vaccine given after you have completed the primary vaccine series. It helps improve protection against COVID-19 that may have decreased over time and boosts the immune response, including making more antibodies. Health Canada authorized mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) to be provided for third/booster doses, regardless of which vaccine was used for the first two doses.

A second booster dose is a dose given after the first booster. For most people, a second booster will be their fourth dose. Public Health Agency of Canada and NACI continues to monitor evidence and information will be updated if subsequent doses are required. Currently the second booster dose is recommended for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 including seniors.

The interval between the doses is dependent on the vaccine you receive, your age, your health status and if you recently had a COVID-19 infection.

According to NACI and the Ministry of Ontario, a booster dose of Novavax Nuvaxovid (0.5mL) may be offered with informed consent, to people without contraindications who are not able or willing to receive an mRNA vaccine.

Booster (3rd) Dose

A third or booster dose vaccine provides an extra layer of protection against COVID-19.

• Youth ages 5-17 yo are eligible to receive a booster dose at least 6 months (≥168 days) after receiving your primary COVID-19 series. Youths must be 5 yo at the time of vaccination.
• Adults ages 18 and older (based on birth date at the time of vaccination) are eligible to receive a booster dose at least 3 months (≥84 days) after receiving your primary COVID-19 series

Vaccine Type

• For 5-11-year-olds: Pediatric Pfizer (10mcg) is the only booster approved.
• For 12–17-year-olds: Monovalent Pfizer (30mcg) is recommended and preferred. Monovalent Moderna (50 mcg) may be given with informed consent to 18- to 29-year-olds. Bivalent Moderna (50mcg) may be given if they fit the eligibility criteria.
• For 18-69-year-olds: Any mRNA vaccine (Monovalent Pfizer 100mcg or Monovalent Moderna 50 mcg or Bivalent Moderna 50mcg)
• For 70+ year old: Any mRNA vaccine (Monovalent Pfizer 100mcg or Monovalent Moderna 100 mcg or Bivalent Moderna 50mcg)

Booster (4th) Dose

A fourth dose of any mRNA vaccine is recommended for:

• Adults (18 years of age and older) who received a primary series and received the third dose at least three months (84 days) ago
• First Nation, Inuit and Métis adults and their non-Indigenous household members (18+) and received third dose at least 5 months (140 days) ago
• Adults (18 years of age and older) moderate to severely immunocompromised who received a three dose primary series and received the third dose at least three months (84 days) ago
• Youth (12–17-year-old) moderately to severely immunocompromised who received a three dose primary series and received the third dose at least 6 months (168 days) ago
• Residents of long-term care homes, retirement homes, Elder Care Lodges and older adults living in other congregate settings providing assisted-living and health services*
• dults ages 18 and older who have proof of immunization AND have received three doses of any non-Health Canada authorized COVID-19 vaccine at the appropriate interval

People who are moderately to severely immunocompromised will need to bring one of the following and optimal timing should be determined on a case-by-case basis in consultation with your clinical team:
A referral form or letter from your physician, or their authorizing organization, confirming that you are eligible for a booster dose. The letter must include your full name and address (matching your ID), and your Ontario Health Card Number. Please ensure your form or letter has all the required information, including confirmation that you meet one or more of the criteria listed above.

OR

If you are currently taking an eligible medication: It is highly recommended and preferred to bring proof of the prescription (e.g., pharmacy medication record). This is because some medications may be toxic to others and require special handling. If you do not have a pharmacy medication record, call your pharmacy to request one. If you must bring medications to the clinic, place them in a clean, see-through plastic bag and ensure the bag is closed. Medication bottles must include prescription date, your name, and contact info for the pharmacy.

According to NACI and the Ministry of Ontario, a booster dose of Novavax Nuvaxovid Johnson & Johnson Janssen may be offered with informed consent, to people without contraindications who are not able or willing to receive an mRNA vaccine.

 

Last Updated September 19, 2022.

All clients are welcome to book online on our MyMedcan Portal for the COVID-19 vaccine. Appointments are on a first come, first-serve basis. Appointments will only be fulfilled if clients meet Provincial or City of Toronto eligibility criteria.

For a complete list of eligibility requirements specific to the City of Toronto, click here.

For vaccine eligibility requirements specific to Ontario, click here.

For those new to Medcan or having difficulties, you are encouraged to email COVIDVaccine@Medcan.com to assist with your booking.

Yes, we have vaccine clinic dates available for the Moderna Spikevax Bivalent Vaccine. Availability is based on supply provided by Toronto Public Health and Halton Public Health.

You must be 18 yo or older and have received your last dose at least 3+ months (84 days) prior to be eligible. Children 12 to 17 yo, who are considered moderately to severely immunocompromised, may be eligible with informed consent and at least 6+ months (168 days) has passed since their last dose.

We ask that all clients book online under their dependent’s MyMedcan Account. You may also email COVIDVaccine@Medcan.com for further information. We will reach out to clients eligible on a first come, first served basis. Appointments will only be offered to clients who meet Provincial or City of Toronto eligibility criteria.

Yes, we have vaccine clinic dates available for Pfizer Vaccines for children 5 to 11 yo and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines for 6 months to 11 yo. Pfizer is not available in Ontario for 6 months to 5 yo.

We ask that all clients book online under their dependent’s MyMedcan Account. You may also email COVIDVaccine@Medcan.com for further information. We will reach out to clients eligible on a first come, first served basis. Appointments will only be offered to clients who meet Provincial or City of Toronto eligibility criteria.

If you recently tested positive for COVID-19, you are advised to wait 12-24 weeks from when your symptoms starts or when you tested positive.

All clients are welcome to register for the COVID-19 vaccine. We will reach out to clients on a first come, first-serve basis. Appointments will only be offered to clients who meet Provincial or City of Toronto eligibility criteria.

For a complete list of eligibility requirements specific to the City of Toronto, click here.

For vaccine eligibility requirements specific to Ontario, click here.

The recommended interval for boosters is ≥6 months (168 days) after the completion of the primary series.

Yes, we are administering Pfizer Vaccines for children 5 to 11 yo for a limited time. We ask that all clients eligible register their dependents on our registration page. We will reach out to clients eligible for Paediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on a first come, first served basis. Appointments will only be offered to clients who meet Provincial or City of Toronto eligibility criteria.

Children given the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines had side effects similar to those experienced by people age 16 and older. The most commonly reported side effects include:

• Pain where the shot was given
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Chills
• Muscle pain
• Fever
• Joint pain
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Nausea
• Decreased appetite

Similar to adults, children have side effects within 2 days after vaccination that typically last 1 to 3 days. More children reported these side effects, except for injection site pain, after the second dose of the vaccine. However, some people have no side effects.

After your child is given a COVID-19 vaccine, he or she will be monitored for 15 to 30 minutes to see if he or she has an allergic reaction that requires treatment.

It isn’t recommended that you give your child an over-the-counter pain reliever before vaccination to prevent side effects. It’s OK to give this kind of medication after your child gets a COVID-19 vaccine.

It is important to note that children 5-11 years old had short-term side effects less often than older adolescents and adults.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 through 11 contains a lower dose (10 micrograms) than the vaccine used for older children and adults (30 micrograms). Smaller needles are being used to deliver the vaccine to children ages 5 through 11.

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The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 through 11 also contains a different buffer than the vaccine used for older children and adults. This different buffer, which is used in other FDA-approved vaccines, will help keep the vaccine stable in refrigerated temperatures for longer.

The ingredients and dosing of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are the same for children ages 12 through 15 and people age 16 and older.

How far apart should children ages 5-11 receive their first and second dose?
To further improve protection and effectiveness of the vaccine, the National Advisory on Immunization (NACI) and the Ministry of Ontario has recommended 8 weeks as the optimal interval between the first and second dose Opens in new window. Evidence will continue to be monitored and information will be updated as needed.

This vaccine is not yet available to children younger than age 5. Clinical trials involving younger children are in progress.

The vaccine also shouldn’t be given to a child with a known history of a severe allergic reaction to any of its ingredients. If this is the case, your child might be able to get another COVID-19 vaccine in the future.

In the U.S., there has been an increase in reported cases of myocarditis and pericarditis after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, particularly in males ages 12 through 17. Myocarditis is the inflammation of the heart muscle, while pericarditis is the inflammation of the lining outside the heart. These reports are rare. One study suggests that the risk of myocarditis in the week after being fully vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is about 54 cases per million doses given to males ages 12 to 17.

Of the cases reported, the problem happened more often after the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and typically within several days after COVID-19 vaccination. Most of the people who received care quickly felt better after receiving medicine and resting. Symptoms to watch for include:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering or pounding heart

If you or your child has any of these symptoms within a week of getting a COVID-19 vaccine, seek medical care.

COVID-19 infection is much more likely to cause myocarditis in children, especially children who develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome , than the vaccine.

• Presently in Ontario, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are being offered.
• Ontario will continue using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for youth ages 5-17 (including those turning 12 in 2021)
• A booster dose is not approved by Health Canada for 5 to 17 year olds.
• It is recommended that 18-24 year olds receive the Pfizer vaccine based on the current available data from Ontario’s adverse events following immunization (AEFI) surveillance system. Individuals 18-24 years old can still receive the Moderna vaccine with informed consent.
• Anyone who got a complete vaccination series of a viral vector vaccine (e.g., two doses of AstraZeneca vaccine or one dose of Janssen) are recommended to get a booster of either mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty or Moderna Spikevax)
• If you are are getting a booster:
• For the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty mRNA vaccine, a full dose (30 mcg) is recommended.
• For the Moderna Spikevax mRNA vaccine, a full dose (100 mcg) is recommended for adults living in long-term care homes or other congregate living settings that provide care for seniors 70 years of age and older. A half dose (50 mcg) is recommended for other adults.

Regardless of which product is offered, the previous dose should be counted, and the series need not be restarted.

mRNA COVID-19 vaccines
If readily available (i.e., easily available at the time of vaccination without delay or vaccine wastage), the same mRNA COVID-19 vaccine product should be offered for the subsequent dose in a vaccine series started with an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. However, when the same mRNA COVID-19 vaccine product is not readily available, or is unknown, another mRNA COVID-19 vaccine product recommended for use in that age group can be considered interchangeable and should be offered to complete the vaccine series.

Vaccine effectiveness against severe COVID-19 outcomes with all vaccine types (including viral vector) remains high, but it is currently unclear to what extent the duration of protection may vary by vaccine product.

Our Medical Advisory Services team highlights the efficacy of Canada’s approved vaccines below.

After ten months of the COVID-19 vaccines being released, scientific evidence still suggests it is the best line of defense against the virus. While no vaccine is 100% effective, getting vaccinated provides the highest level of safety for ourselves and our community members. Below is a chart that highlights the effectiveness of the vaccines against the delta variant as of August 27th 2021.

Important note: As for Moderna, the efficacy rate reflected on the chart is only based on one dose as ongoing research is being conducted for the efficacy of two doses.

The COVID-19 vaccine is free for everyone in Ontario.

Residents without OHIP cards who meet the current vaccine eligibility criteria for their first or second dose may get vaccinated at any clinic. A health card is not needed; however, individuals must bring an acceptable form of identification which may include government-issued ID such as a driver’s license or passport, a piece of mail with your name on it, a pay stub, or a student card.

Consult with your health care provider before getting vaccinated, if you:

• are on medications that weaken your immune system – you may want to time your vaccination with your medications
• had an allergic reaction within four hours after receiving your first COVID-19 vaccine dose
• have severe allergies to any of the vaccine ingredients

Your health care provider will review the benefits and risks for your unique situation.

Please be aware that for those 5-11 years of age, the COVID-19 vaccine cannot be given within 14 days of another vaccine ie. flu shot.

Should there be changes to your eligibility, please notify our Vaccine team at COVIDVaccine@medcan.com
If you have any questions, or require additional guidance, please consult your family physician—at Medcan or elsewhere.