COVID-19 Vaccine

  • Many local pharmacies have received the updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines from the Ministry of Health. Pharmacies are the primary way that Ontarians access these vaccines.

  • Visit the Ministry of Health’s website or OttawaPublicHealth.ca/FindPharmacy to locate a pharmacy near you including hours of operation, address, contact information and details on how to book an appointment.
Who can receive the COVID-19 vaccine

Starting April 2025, a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for previously immunized high-risk populations including:

  • Adults 65 years of age and older.
  • Adult residents of long-term care homes and other congregate living settings for seniors.
  • Individuals 6 months of age and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised (due to an underlying condition or treatment).
  • Individuals 55 years and older who identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Metis andtheir non-Indigenous household members who are 55 years and older.

The Spring dose is recommended 6 months (minimum 3 months) from the Fall vaccination.

Individuals who have never received a COVID-19 immunization and meet the high-risk criteria are recommended to receive vaccination in Spring 2025. Please speak to your healthcare provider or visit The Ministry of Health’s website for details on the the recommended schedule.

All other individuals are recommended to wait until fall for the next annual COVID-19 vaccine program (i.e. 2025/2026) for immunization.
Where to get vaccinated against COVID-19

Pharmacies

  • Pharmacies are the primary way that Ontarians access these vaccines. It is recommended to contact your local pharmacy, prior to visiting, to check vaccine

    availability. Visit the Ministry of Health’s website or OttawaPublicHealth.ca/FindPharmacy to locate a pharmacy near you.

Participating community health care providers

  • Check with your regular health care provider to see if they offer the vaccines. 

Ottawa Public Health Community Vaccination Clinics

As of April 2025, OPH clinics will serve eligible high-risk clients facing significant barriers to accessing the immunization in the community including:

  • young children 5 and under, and newcomers without OHIP; 
  • other high-risk clients accessing our services will be able to receive immunization based on clinic capacity.
Confirm Eligibility and Book COVID-19 Vaccine 

Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs

Ottawa Public Health will offer COVID-19 vaccination eligible high-risk clients facing significant barriers to accessing the immunization in the community including young children 5 and under, and newcomers without OHIP; other high-risk clients accessing our services will be able to receive immunization based on clinic capacity. Visit our Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs page for information on hub locations, hours and vaccine availability.
What COVID-19 vaccines are available

Moderna and Pfizer mRNA vaccines are available and protect against the KP.2 variant. Moderna is the vaccine available for children 6 months to 11 years of age.

These are the same mRNA COVID-19 vaccines that were available in Fall 2024.The availability of these vaccines will vary by provider and may not be available at the

same time. As age appropriate, they are both recommended for COVID-19 protection.

How many doses of vaccine are recommended?

A single Spring dose is recommended 6 months (minimum 3 months) from the Fall vaccination for eligible high-risk individuals. High-risk individuals who have never received a COVID-19 vaccine will require additional dose(s). Please visit The Ministry of Health’s website for detailed recommendations on vaccine scheduling for unimmunized high-risk individuals.

All other individuals should wait until fall for the next annual COVID-19 vaccine program (i.e. Fall 2025/2026).

Novavax vaccine

The non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine Novavax (Nuvaxovid) is not currently available in Ontario.

  • If you are concerned about an allergy or contraindication to an mRNA vaccine, we recommend that you speak to a primary care provider who will determine if the vaccine can be administered safely and enable the creation of a care plan for your vaccination.
  • Individuals who are unable to receive an mRNA vaccine should speak with their health care provider about how to lower their risk of infection from COVID-19 and about treatment options, including the use of Paxlovid if eligible, to reduce the duration and severity of illness.

Can I get vaccinated for COVID-19 even if I have had COVID-19?

Even if you’ve previously had COVID-19, getting vaccinated is important to guard against reinfection and severe illness. Although natural infection offers some

immunity, receiving the vaccine at the recommended times helps further improve your immune response.

If you have either received a positive COVID-19 test visit the Ministry of Health’s website for information on timing of vaccination.

Individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 or other infections, without a confirmed diagnosis, should ensure that they don't have a fever, symptoms have been

improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea were present) and there have not been any new symptoms before receiving vaccination.

Contact Us