⚠ For those seeking care with COVID-19 or respiratory symptoms, a full list of Care Clinics in the Ottawa-area is available on our website.
Last revised: March 20, 2023
Who can receive the vaccine
Primary series |
People six months or older, at the time of their appointment, are currently eligible to receive a primary series. A primary series for most healthy people is the first two doses of the vaccine given at two different times. Children six months to four years of age getting the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine require three doses to complete a primary series. The recommended spacing between doses is eight weeks (56 days). |
Primary series if immunocompromised |
People six months or older who have a weakened immune system (immunocompromised), because of a medical condition or medication they take, are eligible to receive a three dose primary series. A third dose is added to help improve protection in people who did not develop an optimal immune response after their first two COVID-19 vaccine doses. The recommended spacing between doses is eight weeks (56 days). In some cases, the number of days between doses may be shortened as advised by your health care provider or specialist. Only people with certain medical conditions or who are on specific medications that weaken the immune system need a three dose primary series. Please see the Ministry of Health COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance for more information. |
Booster dose(s) |
People five years of age and older, at the time of their appointment, are eligible to receive a booster dose. A booster dose helps restore protection that may have decreased over time after receiving the primary series. Booster eligibility for children five to 11 years of ageChildren five to 11 years of age are eligible to receive a booster dose. Children must have turned five by the day they receive their vaccine. The booster dose is recommended 6 months (168 days) after the previous dose or COVID-19 infection. However, people may choose to receive a booster dose as early as three months (84 days) after their previous dose with informed consent. As per the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), more time between doses has shown to result in a better immune response and protection. Speak with your health care provider about what timing is best for you. As per the NACI, only one booster dose is recommended after the primary series for children five to 11 years of age, at this time. Children who have already received a booster dose (including a monovalent booster) are expected to have good protection. Booster eligibility for people 12 years of age and olderPeople 12 years of age and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose this 2022-23 respiratory season (after September 1, 2022), regardless of how many booster doses they have already received. The booster dose is recommended 6 months (168 days) after the previous dose or COVID-19 infection. The Ministry of Health strongly recommends the following vulnerable groups receive their COVID-19 booster as soon as possible (as early as 3-months or 84 days) if they have not received one since September 1, 2022:
All other people may choose to receive their booster dose as early as three months (84 days) after their previous dose with informed consent. As per the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), more time between doses has shown to result in a better immune response and protection. Speak with your health care provider about what timing is best for you. As per NACI, people who have already received a booster dose (monovalent or bivalent) this respiratory season (September 1, 2022 onward) do not require an additional booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at this time. Both the monovalent and bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines will boost the immune response and are expected to provide good protection. |
Novavax vaccine |
The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines remain the recommended vaccines because of the protection they provide and well-known safety profiles. The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine can be given to people 12 years of age and older older as part of their primary series and to people 18 years of age and older as a booster dose who:
Booking an appointmentNovavax appointments can only be booked through the Ottawa Public Health booking page. Use this online form to register for Novavax COVID-19 vaccination. For booking information at all other clinics, visit our Where to get vaccinated section. |
Vaccine(s) received outside of Ontario |
People who have received one or two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine not approved in Canada are eligible to receive a dose of a Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccine. People are also eligible to receive a booster dose 6 months (168 days) after their Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccine. People who have received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine not approved in Canada are eligible to receive a booster dose six months (168 days) after their last dose. Booster doses can be given as early as three months (84 days) after the last dose with informed consent. As per the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, more time between doses has shown to result in a better immune response and protection. Speak with your health care provider about what timing is best for you. For more information, visit our frequently asked questions on vaccines received outside of Canada, Ontario or Ottawa, or through a federal program. |
Where to get vaccinated
Ottawa Public Health offers COVID-19 vaccination through local community clinics and neighbourhood health and wellness hubs. Please note that masks are required at all Ottawa Public Health vaccination clinics. Find below, more information about each type of Ottawa Public Health clinic.
Community clinics | |||||||||||||||||||||
COVID-19 vaccination is available at community clinics for eligible clients six months and older. Residents are encouraged to book an appointment. Walk-ins will be accepted as capacity allows. You can use the online provincial booking system or call the Provincial booking system at 1-833-943-3900 (TTY 1-866-797-0007) to schedule an appointment at your local community clinic. The vaccination clinic locations in Ottawa were selected with accessibility being the main consideration. For booking information at all other clinics, visit our Where to get vaccinated section. If you require disability-related accommodations, please fill out this COVID-19 Vaccine Accessibility Assessment form at least 48 hours before your appointment. With less than 48 hours, Ottawa Public Health will strive to meet all accommodation needs, however, may not be able meet all requirements. Should you need assistance in completing the accommodation request form, please contact Ottawa Public Health at 613-691-5505. A number of transportation services are available to help you get to and from your appointment.
Changing or cancelling a vaccine appointmentIf you booked your appointment with Ottawa Public Health, Wabano, Akausivik, a pharmacy, a hospital or at Switch Health, please contact them directly to make any changes. Ottawa Public Health can be reached at 613-691-5505. If you booked an appointment through the provincial online vaccine booking system, you can reschedule or cancel it online or by calling 1-833-943-3900 (TTY 1-866-797-0007). You will need your:
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Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs | |||||||||||||||||||||
In collaboration with city and community partners, Ottawa Public Health offers free drop-in services to all residents of Ottawa at our accessible Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs. COVID-19 vaccination is available at select locations. Come speak to Ottawa Public Health and City of Ottawa staff. View the locations and hours of the Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs. |
Other places in Ottawa offer COVID-19 vaccination such as select pharmacies, First Nations, Inuit and Métis clinics, the Kids Come First Health Team vaccination clinics, and Switch Health clinics. Find below, more information about other places that offer COVID-19 vaccination.
Select Pharmacies | ||||||
Select pharmacy locations offer COVID-19 vaccination. Pharmacy locations are separate from Ottawa Public Health’s vaccination roll-out. You can find a list of all pharmacies offering COVID-19 vaccines, including which vaccines are offered, hours, locations and how to book an appointment online. |
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First Nations, Inuit and Métis clinics | ||||||
The Akausivik Inuit Family Health Team and Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health offer COVID-19 vaccination. Please see the table below for location, hours, eligibility and booking information.
Proof of vaccination People who were vaccinated at Akausivik received a paper receipt. Paper receipts are valid proof of vaccination, but if you travel, you may be asked for an electronic vaccine certificate. Akausivik is reaching out to all of their clients to provide updated information about COVax and assist those who want to be recorded in COVax to get a QR code. To get a COVax receipt, please contact Akausivik Inuit Family Health Team at 613-740-0999, by email generalinfo@aifht.ca or visit their website for more information Changing or cancelling a vaccine appointmentIf you booked your appointment with Ottawa Public Health, Wabano, Akausivik, a pharmacy, a hospital or at Switch Health, please contact them directly to make any changes. Ottawa Public Health can be reached at 613-691-5505. |
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Kids Come First Health Team vaccination clinics |
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The Kids Come First Health Team holds COVID-19 vaccination clinics at CHEO for children six months to 17 years old who cannot attend a community vaccination clinic. Reasons a child may have difficulty receiving their vaccination in the community include:
The clinic is open to children and their household members. If your child meets the criteria above, you can pre-register to receive your COVID-19 vaccine at a Kids Come First vaccination clinic. Please note that pre-registration does not mean you are booking an appointment. For more information visit the Kids Come First Health Team vaccination clinics web page. |
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Two Switch Health Bio-Test Laboratory clinics in Ottawa offer COVID-19 vaccine boosters for people 18 years of age and older, by appointment only. For more information and to book an appointment visit the Switch Health website. Please enter “Ottawa” in the search bar to access these clinics and book an appointment.
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Have a question?
For frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccination in children: visit our COVID-19 vaccination and children webpage
For other frequently asked questions: visit our frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccination webpage
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