fbpx

COVID-19 vaccines are safe.

  • Vaccinated people are less likely to get seriously sick with COVID-19 and are less likely to spread the virus to others.
  • Vaccinating as many people as possible is important to reduce the impact of COVID-19.
  • When more people are vaccinated, it is harder for the virus to spread, and for new variants to emerge. When this happens, we can do what we love safely. That’s a win!

Boosters give you stronger protection.

  • Vaccine immunity can wane (decrease) over time. Getting a booster dose is the best way to restore and maintain protection against COVID-19 infection and to help reduce the risk of severe illness, complications, or death due to COVID-19. This is especially important when COVID-19 activity is high in the community. We encourage everyone to stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccine, that means receiving all the doses you are eligible/recommended to receive, including your boosters.
  • As of October 17, 2022, all Ontarians aged 12 years and older are eligible for a bivalent COVID-19 booster dose.
  • Individuals can receive the bivalent booster at the recommended interval of at least six months from their previous dose, regardless of how many boosters they have already received.
  • Individuals may choose to receive a booster dose as early as three months (84 days) after their previous dose with informed consent.

It is safe and effective to receive a “mixed-vaccine” series.

  • Mixing COVID-19 vaccines is safe, effective, and enables everyone to benefit from the protection of a booster dose.
  • Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech are both mRNA vaccines that protect against COVID-19 infection. They produce a very similar immune response and potential side effects (how your body reacts).
  • Using one vaccine in place of another similar vaccine from a different manufacturer is not new. This is often done with vaccines like the flu vaccine or Hepatitis A.
  • Both the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines provide strong protection against COVID-19 and its variants.
  • The only exception to this is with pediatric vaccines, which needs to remain the same (either Pfizer or Moderna) throughout the primary series.

COVID-19 vaccines do not have a negative impact on pregnancy or fertility.

How long should I wait to get my booster dose if I had a COVID-19 infection?

  • The recommendation is that you wait three months (84 days) after testing positive for COVID-19, or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. For youth ages 12 to 17, it’s recommended you wait at least 184 days.
  • The research shows that a longer interval between a COVID-19 infection and vaccination improves your antibody response to the vaccine. However, after a COVID-19 infection and with informed consent, you may receive your booster earlier than three months (84 days).
  • Please do not attend a clinic until after symptoms have resolved and you have completed your isolation period as per current public health guidelines.

Information provided by Ottawa Public Health