COVID-19 can be a serious illness for many people and for some , symptoms can last for months. In Ontario, the predominant variant of concern is currently the Delta variant which is been shown to be more contagious.  At this time, the majority of our cases since July 1, 2021 have been in those individuals who are unvaccinated.

• help your body build an effective immune response to help protect you from serious illness, hospitalization, and death, and
• add one more layer of protection for you, your family, friends, and our community.

Yes. Individuals 6 months and older who have not completed their primary series should wait 2 months after infection. Individuals eligible for a booster dose should wait six months after infection.

Yes, the vaccines are very effective at preventing COVID-19 symptoms in people who get it. It is not known if you can still give the infection to someone that has not been immunized if you have been exposed to the virus. This is why it is important that you continue to follow the public health measures, even once you have been vaccinated.

Vaccines work by training your body’s immune system to recognize and fight a virus that causes a disease. To do this, a vaccine triggers an immune response by introducing parts of the virus into the body through vaccination.

By injecting a vaccine, your immune system safely learns to:

• recognize a virus
• produce antibodies to fight the virus
• remember the virus for the future

If the virus reappears, your immune system will recognize it and attack it before it can develop and cause sickness.

There are two different types of COVID-19 vaccines, mNRA vaccines and viral vector-based vaccines.

mNRA vaccines, including Pfizer and Moderna:

• mRNA vaccines tell the cells in our body to make the COVID-19 spike protein so our body will learn to recognize it as a foreign invader. This will train our immune system to fight against COVID-19.

  Novavax, recombinant protein subunit

• These contain pieces (spike protein) of the virus that causes COVID-19. It also contains an adjuvant that helps immune system respond to that spike protein in the future. Once immune system knows how to respond to the spike protein, it will be able to respond quickly to actual virus and project you against COVID-19.

Viral Vector-based vaccines, including AstraZeneca and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson)

• These vaccines use a modified, harmless version of COVID-19 to send information to our cells. This information tells our cells to make the COVID-19 spike protein so our body will learn to recognize it as a foreign invader. This will train our immune system to fight against COVID-19.

Creating a new vaccine typically takes years. The COVID-19 vaccines were developed quicker than normal for many reasons, including:

• being informed by decades of research on other strains of coronavirus prior to COVID-19, such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Sars-CoV (SARS),
• an historic amount of money being invested into research,
• research and testing happening at the same time instead of in steps, and
• more people signing up for vaccine trials than typically do for other vaccines.

Before any vaccines are available in Ontario, they:

• undergo rigorous clinical trials to ensure they are safe and effective
• are evaluated and authorized for use by Health Canada, using rigorous standards

Ontario’s plan to make sure vaccines remain safe for Ontarians includes:

• securely and safely transporting and storing vaccines at required conditions and temperatures
• establishing safe clinic spaces to give people immunizations, including providing the required training to those administering vaccines
• monitoring for any adverse reactions or side effects that may occur after vaccination and taking appropriate measures

Health Canada will continue to monitor all authorized vaccines to ensure they continue to be safe and effective.

None of the COVID-19 vaccines contain cells from aborted fetuses.

Something called human cell lines, which are different than actual human cells, are grown in a lab and used in the development of some vaccines (although removed before administration). Neither of the approved mRNA vaccines in Canada (Moderna and Pfizer) use human cells or human cells lines.

For more information, please see this information sheet:

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No, the COVID-19 vaccine will not make you sick. None of the COVID-19 vaccines currently approved use the live virus that causes COVID-19.

After getting vaccinated it is common and normal to have temporary side effects.

This is the body’s natural response as it is working with the vaccine to build protection against the disease.

Most of the common side effects for the COVID-19 vaccines are mild to moderate and will happen within the first 3 days after getting the vaccination, and will last for about 1-2 days. They include:

• Symptoms at the injection site: pain, redness, swelling
• Flu-like symptoms: headache, fatigue (feeling tired), muscle aches, joint pain, fever, chills

Even if you experience mild side effects with the first dose, it is important to receive the second dose. You may get the same side effects with your second dose.

In very rare cases, the COVID-19 vaccines could cause serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). A serious allergic reaction would usually occur shortly after receiving a dose of either vaccine. You will be asked to stay 15 minutes after getting your shot so you can be monitored for a severe reaction and provided treatment in the rare case it is needed.

 Signs of a serious allergic reaction include, but are not limited to:

• trouble breathing
• swelling of the mouth and throat
• hoarseness or wheezing
• hives (a bad rash all over your body)
• a fast heartbeat
• convulsions (seizures)
• high fever (over 40^oC or 104^oF)

If you experience side effects, call your health care provider or public health to seek medical advice. Vaccine side effects will be continually monitored as people receive the vaccine. Public health will keep track of the reported side effects to make sure the vaccine continues to be safe.

Viruses are always undergoing changes or mutations and scientists are constantly monitoring for these.

The Omicron variant has been shown to be much more contagious then previous variants. At this time, two vaccine doses are not as effective at preventing infections. Ontario has prioritized Bivalent booster doses for all residents 5+ which offer greater protection against this variant.

Data from the BORN Information System was recently used to explore outcomes for pregnant individuals (and newborns) following COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy.

97,500+ pregnant people in Ontario gave birth from December 14, 2020 to September 30, 2021

• 23% received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy
  • 64% received dose 1 in the 3rd trimester
  • 99.8% received an mRNA vaccine

Findings

• No increased risk of adverse outcomes during late pregnancy or the early newborn period for those who received COVID-19 vaccination compared with those who were not vaccinated during pregnancy
• For mothers
  • No increased risk of heavy bleeding after giving birth, infection in the uterus or membranes, or requiring emergency cesarean section
• For babies
  • No increased risk of low 5-minute Apgar score* or requiring admission to neonatal intensive care.
• The results did not change when evaluated according to:
  • Number of doses received during pregnancy
  • Type of mRNA vaccine
  • Trimester when the vaccine was received

Study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 2022

Mixing vaccines from different manufactures is not a new idea. Vaccine series for influenza, hepatitis A, and others have been completed with different vaccine products.

All vaccine options for second doses (and booster doses), including vaccine mixing (AstraZeneca with mRNA vaccines and switching between mRNA vaccines), are:

• safe,
• provide strong protection against COVID-19, and
• will count towards a completed vaccine series (meaning you will be fully vaccinated once you get two shots).

The vaccine is given by a needle in the upper arm. Some vaccines require two doses, which are given at two separate times. If you require a second dose, instructions will be provided to you at the time you receive your first dose. At this time, Ontario is extending second doses with a few exemptions. Please read ‘When will I get my Second Dose?’ for more information.

You do not have to wait to receive another vaccine before or after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination.

Individuals 6 months and older may receive a COVID-19 vaccine simultaneously with (i.e., same day), or at any time before or after non-COVID-19 vaccines. The exception to this is the Imvamune vaccine for mpox.

In order to receive a vaccination at a CK Public Health clinic individuals are required to pass the Ontario Self Assessment screening.

If you do not pass the screening please reschedule your appointment.

You should not get vaccinated if you:

• have allergies to any of the vaccine ingredients, including polyethylene glycol (PEG), tromethamine (trometamol or Tris), and polysorbate 80. If you are unsure of your allergies, please talk with your physician or healthcare provider.
• have had a severe allergic reaction after the first dose of the vaccine or a severe allergic reaction after a dose of any other ‘adenovirus-based vaccine’.

If you are concerned about whether you are able to get the vaccine because of a medical condition you have, talk to your health care provider.

Check with your doctor or health care provider if you have had a serious allergic reaction to a vaccine in the past. They will look at your medical records and help you make the decision.

Please talk with your physician or healthcare provider to learn if it is safe for you to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Yes. When you are eligible to get the vaccine, you will not be turned away because you do not have a health card or Government issued ID.

COVID-19 vaccines have been found very effective in preventing COVID-19, however, there is still a chance that some people may get COVID-19 even after they are vaccinated. There are a number for this, including:

• COVID-19 vaccines are not 100% effective
• Building immunity takes time. Depending on the type of vaccine you get, you may be required to get two doses. This is because the two doses are needed for your body to have maximum protection against COVID-19. This protection, however, is not immediate. Vaccines are not considered effective until about 14 days after getting both doses. Someone that comes into contact with the virus just before or after receiving the vaccine may still get COVID-19 since they have not yet built up their immunity.

All of this means that we need to continue to follow public health measures including washing your hands, staying home when sick, maintaining physical distancing, and wearing a face mask as appropriate, even after receiving both doses of the vaccine.

Yes. The vaccines are not 100% effective and transmission after vaccination is unknown at this time, so it may still be possible to pass the virus on to others. To help stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect those who are not yet vaccinated or who are unable to get vaccinated, it is important that anyone who develops symptoms gets tested and continues to isolate.