Frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccination

Who should get a dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine this fall and when will it be available?

Health Canada approved the Moderna SPIKEVAX and the Pfizer-BioNTech XBB mRNA COVID-19 vaccine on September 12, 2023 and September 28, 2023, respectively. This updated COVID-19 vaccine targets the XBB.1 variant and is expected to produce a stronger immune response to currently circulating COVID-19 variants.

A dose of the updated XBB. 1.5-containing COVID-19 mRNA vaccine is recommended this fall for everyone 6 months of age and older if it has been six months since your last COVID-19 vaccine or known COVID-19 infection. Getting a dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine is very important for people who are at risk of getting very sick from the COVID-19 virus such as people 65 years and older, people who are pregnant and people living in long-term care home, retirement homes, for example.

Ottawa Public Health receives its supply of COVID-19 vaccines from the provincial government. The initial shipment of the updated COVID-19 vaccine, consisting of a small number of doses, has been prioritized for highest risk settings including hospitals and long-term care homes starting at the end of September. As Ottawa Public Health receives more of the updated COVID-19 vaccine from the province, the vaccine will become more widely available. Following hospitals and Long-Term Care Homes, Ottawa Public Health anticipates doses will become available in mid to late October for other high-risk groups (such as people 65 years of age and older, people who are pregnant, people living in retirement homes and other congregate living settings) as well as health care workers followed by the general population at the  very end of October.

• If you have a health condition or special needs that prevents you from visiting a local clinic, pharmacy, or your primary care provider to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, a team can come to your home to offer vaccination to you and to your caregiver. 
• Please call 613-691-5505 to request an in-home vaccination. 
• A nurse will contact you to assess your eligibility and obtain more information to book a date and time. 

The clinical trial data shows that there have been mild cases of myocarditis and or pericarditis reported after receiving the Novavax Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine. According to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), it is unclear whether these cases are indicative of a safety signal. Post-market safety surveillance, which is routinely done, is required to determine whether this is an adverse event of interest associated with Novavax Nuvaxovid. 

For more information see Ministry of Health COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance and COVID-19 vaccine: Canadian Immunization Guide  

Vaccination of specific populations

If you have received one or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine outside of the Province of Ontario, you may provide your proof of immunization to Ottawa Public Health. Complete the COVID-19 Out of Province Dose Documentation form to notify Ottawa Public Health of your out of province dose administration, and upload the documentation you have received.

Do not use this form to submit medical exemption information.

This form is to be completed by City of Ottawa residents only.

If you live outside of Ottawa, but within Ontario, contact your local public health unit to submit proof of your out of province vaccination.

If you are visiting Ottawa, you do not need to complete this form. If you are visiting from outside of Canada, please consult the Government of Canada's entry requirements.

I received one or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine through a Federal program while in the province of Ontario (for example military, global affairs or embassy vaccination clinic). How do I ensure my vaccination is recorded in Ontario?

What can I expect once I submit my proof of vaccination form?

You will receive an electronic vaccine receipt to the email provided on the electronic submission form once it is processed.

An Ottawa Public Health nurse will contact you if we have questions about your submission.

COVID-19 vaccination with an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (including booster doses) is strongly recommended during pregnancy. Getting vaccinated, as soon as possible, is the safest choice to protect yourself and your baby from the known risks of COVID-19 infection. Several studies have shown that receiving mRNA COVID-19 vaccines right before and/or at any stage of pregnancy has no impact on pregnancy outcomes.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends you get a complete series with an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine if you're pregnant or breastfeeding and stay up to date on booster doses.

Getting the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine helps prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and complications from COVID-19 infection.
Getting the vaccine helps prevent complications or bad outcomes for parent and baby. Most pregnant people who get COVID-19 will have mild symptoms. However, pregnant people are at an increased risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 including needing to be hospitalized and admitted to the intensive care unit compared to those who are not pregnant.
People who have a COVID-19 infection in pregnancy are also at increased risk of giving birth too early (preterm birth), having a caesarean delivery and having a baby admitted into a neonatal intensive care unit.

Pregnant and breastfeeding individuals who receive the mRNA (Comirnaty/Pfizer-BioNtech or Moderna) vaccines experience the same side effects of vaccination as non-pregnant individuals.
Common side effects after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine are pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, and muscle pain. This is caused by the immune system’s normal response to the vaccine. These side effects usually last a few days and go away on their own.
Looking for more information? See the:

• Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health’s information sheet

• Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada Statement on COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnancy

There is no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 vaccines have any effect on your fertility or chances of becoming pregnant. Fertility treatment is not a medical reason that prevents you from getting vaccinated. 

Can getting a COVID-19 vaccine affect menstruation or fertility?

It is not clear if the COVID-19 vaccine can affect your periods. But getting sick with COVID-19 can affect your periods. Studies looking at whether there is a link between menstrual cycles and the COVID-19 vaccine are underway. As per the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, if COVID-19 vaccines do affect the menstrual cycle, it would be expected to affect only one to two cycles. Getting sick can affect your periods and severe illnesses like COVID-19 can affect your cycle for much longer. 

Fertility, the ability to get pregnant, is not affected by vaccines. During the years that someone could get pregnant, precaution should be taken with certain live virus vaccines. This is because of theoretical risk to the fetus, not because fertility could be affected. An example of a live virus vaccine is the measles vaccine. 

The COVID-19 vaccines in use are not live virus vaccines. There is no biological reason to believe that the current COVID-19 vaccines would impact someone’s fertility. The U.S. has safety data of over 35,000 pregnant women who received COVID-19 vaccine. This data has not identified any safety concerns with getting an mRNA vaccine within 30 days of conception. NACI has recommended that you do not need to avoid pregnancy after vaccination with an mRNA vaccine. An individual may receive all doses for which they are eligible during the course of a pregnancy.

Male fertility: millions of men worldwide have received the COVID-19 vaccines. There is no evidence to date that shows that getting a COVID-19 vaccine could lead to fertility loss. We do know that all vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccines, can cause a brief fever in some people. Significant fever from any cause (e.g., if you get the flu) may have a temporary impact on sperm count and quality. But, this effect is only temporary. Some studies have shown that if you get COVID-19, it may affect the quality of your sperm. It is unclear how long this effect lasts.  

What do I do if I or someone I support has a needle phobia or fear but would still like to get a COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic?

You never know how COVID-19 will affect your health after the acute illness has passed. Most people with COVID-19 get better in a few weeks. Some take longer to recover or have problems during recovery. 

Anyone can experience post-COVID-19 health conditions (also referred to as long COVID, long-haul COVID, post-acute COVID-19, long-term effects of COVID, or chronic COVID). This includes people who did not have symptoms while they had COVID-19. Every person is different. 

Preventing post-COVID conditions / ‘long-COVID’:  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the best way to prevent post-COVID conditions is to protect yourself and others from being infected. For those who are eligible, getting vaccinated against COVID-19 can help prevent infection and protect against severe illness. The CDC also states that research shows those who are vaccinated and become infected with COVID-19 are less likely to report post-COVID conditions compared to those who are not vaccinated.

Symptoms of post-COVID-19 health conditions can be new or ongoing and last weeks or months following a COVID-19 infection. Some of these symptoms can include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Tiredness or fatigue
• Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as “brain fog”)
• Cough
• Chest or stomach pain
• Headache 

Post-COVID-19 health conditions appear to be less common in children and adolescents. Symptoms in children and adolescents are similar to those experienced by adults. 

The causes and treatments for each person who has longer-term health problems will be different. The long-term effects of COVID-19 infection are still being studied. Have a discussion with your health care provider about your personal situation if you are having problems during your recovery. 

For more information on post-COVID-19 health conditions, please visit:

• Post-COVID Conditions | CDC 
• Post-COVID-19 condition - Canada.ca

How can I reduce the risks of COVID-19 transmission in indoor spaces?

Exhaled breath, whether from breathing, speaking, singing, shouting, etc., contains a variety of sizes of particles - respiratory droplets or aerosols - some of which are big enough that they fall quickly to the ground. Some of which are small enough that they can stay in the air for various lengths of time.

COVID-19 is primarily transmitted through direct contact into the mouth, nose, or eyes with the exhaled respiratory droplets or aerosols which carry the virus from an infected person. Ventilation indoors with fresh air provides an important additional layer of protection. Ventilation with fresh air should be improved whenever possible, e.g., bringing in more fresh air through a properly maintained ventilation system or by opening windows and doors. Reducing the risk of transmission while indoors by wearing a mask or face covering and ensuring a distance of two metres (six feet) from those outside your household, continue to be important basics.

Poor ventilation in indoor spaces is linked to increased transmission of respiratory infections, particularly if the space is small. Transmission of COVID-19 has been linked with enclosed spaces, including from people who are infected but are not showing any symptoms of illness.

Even when keeping a distance of two or more metres, people should wear a mask if spending time in an enclosed airspace with people not from their household. The longer you are exposed to someone else in an enclosed space, the higher your chances are of breathing in that person’s exhaled respiratory droplets. The safest approach is to wear a mask at all times when you are in the same room with someone not from your household.

As per the Ministry of Health COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance, people with known allergies to components of the COVID-19 vaccine may speak with a physician or nurse practitioner to determine whether and how they should receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The physician or nurse practitioner can help create a vaccination care plan to ensure you receive the vaccine safely.

If you have a known severe allergic reaction to a component in one of either the Moderna Spikevax or Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNtech) vaccines and can’t interchange your subsequent dose, you will be able to receive the appropriate vaccine at one of our clinics.

Visit the Health Canada web page for a list of ingredients for the COVID-19 vaccines.

American Sign Language - What are the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines?

The most frequent side effects are injection site pain, fatigue and headache. Some people who got the vaccine in trials also reported muscle pain, chills, joint pain and fever. These symptoms were usually mild or moderate and went away within a few days. These are all expected reactions to vaccines because of the immune response. They are very similar to those reported following the seasonal influenza vaccination.

You can find more information on the side effects for each vaccine on the Health Canada website.

If someone experiences an adverse event following immunization, they should report it to a healthcare professional (e.g., family doctor).

An adverse event following immunization (AEFI) is an unwanted or unexpected health effect that happens after someone receives a vaccine, which may or may not be caused by the vaccine.

Public health surveillance of AEFIs is important for timely detection of rare vaccine safety issues. For more information visit the OPH page on AEFI reporting.

Expected side effects for each vaccine product are listed on the vaccine product monograph; common side effects could be found under ‘Side effects and risks’.

Healthcare professionals should complete the Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) Form and send it to the local public health unit.

New Online Reporting Option for AEFIs

We are pleased to announce an online portal for submitting AEFI reporting securely in PDF format: https://secureforms.ottawapublichealth.ca/vaccines/AEFI-Submission-EN

This provides another option, in addition to reporting by fax to: 613-580-9660.

Can I get the COVID-19 vaccine if I recently got another vaccine or if I am due for another vaccine?

NACI recommends that COVID-19 vaccines may be given at the same time as, or before or after other vaccines for anyone 6 months of age or older. This includes live, non-live, adjuvanted, and non-adjuvanted vaccines. There are no specific safety concerns when routine vaccines are given at the same time or within days of each other. Please note that there could be stronger, temporary side effects when a COVID-19 vaccine and another vaccine are given at the same time or within days of each other.