COVID-19 Vaccines: Dose Information

The fall bivalent booster campaign is now underway for those 18 years and older as well as those who are 12-17 years and are considered moderately to severely immunocompromised.

To prioritize distribution to the most vulnerable, new booster appointments will be available only to the Priority Groups (listed below) until September 26.

However, to allow for convenient planning and preparation, individuals 18 years of age and older who do not belong to a Priority Group can start booking their appointments today. All previously-booked booster appointments for September 12 to 25 will be honoured and, if available, the bivalent vaccine will be offered.

Priority Groups - September 12 to 25

The eligible Priority Groups listed below can receive an appointment between September 12 and 25:

• individuals aged 70 and over
• residents of long-term care homes, retirement homes, Elder Care Lodges, and individuals living in other congregate settings that provide assisted-living and health services
• First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18 and over \moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals aged 12 and over (please contact your health care provider for a referral)
• pregnant individuals aged 18 and older
• health care workers aged 18 and older

Appointments can be booked through the COVID-19 vaccination portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre (PVCC) at 1-833-943-3900. Eligible individuals can also book an appointment directly through public health units that use their own booking systems, Indigenous-led vaccination clinics, participating health care providers and participating pharmacies.

Pregnant individuals and health care workers must call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre (PVCC) at 1-833-943-3900 or book booster dose appointments through participating pharmacies to book appointment dates from September 12 to 25.

Long-term care, retirement home and Elder Care Lodge residents may receive their bivalent booster dose directly through the congregate home where they live.

Read the news release to learn more.

Eligible to receive:

• Two doses as the primary series; 8 weeks apart.
  • Note: Individuals 18-29 are recommended to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. See the Vaccine Facts page for more details.

Booster Doses

• Booster doses are recommended as there is an ongoing risk of infection due to wanning immunity and the ongoing risk of severe illness.
• Individuals in this age group are eligible to receive a booster dose:
  • 6 months (168 days) after their last dose BUT they can receive the booster earlier at a minimum of 84 days
• As of September 12, 2022, the Moderna Bivalent vaccine will be offered as a booster. Please see details on the Fall Bivalent Booster Campaign at the top of this page to determine the date at which you are eligible to receive the vaccine as it is based on a variety of factors and they are listed at the top of this page under the “Fall Bivalent Booster Campaign for 18 years and older” tab.

Eligible to receive:

• Two doses as the primary series; 8 weeks apart.

Booster Doses

• Booster doses are recommended as there is an ongoing risk of infection due to wanning immunity and the ongoing risk of severe illness.
• Individuals in this age group are eligible to receive a booster dose:
  • 6 months (168 days) after their last dose BUT they can receive the booster earlier at a minimum of 84 days
• As of September 12, 2022, the Moderna Bivalent vaccine will be offered as a booster. Please see details on the Fall Bivalent Booster Campaign at the top of this page to determine the date at which you are eligible to receive the vaccine as it is based on a variety of factors and they are listed at the top of this page under the “Fall Bivalent Booster Campaign for 18 years and older” tab.

• Individuals with moderate to severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g. DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome).
• Individuals with stage 3 or advanced untreated HIV infection, and those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

• Individuals receiving dialysis (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis).
• Individuals receiving active treatment* (e.g. chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy) for solid tumour or hematologic malignancies.
  • *Active treatment includes patients who have completed treatment within 3 months. Active treatment is defined as chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and excludes individuals receiving therapy that does not suppress the immune system (e.g. solely hormonal therapy or radiation therapy).
• Recipients of solid-organ transplant and are taking immunosuppressive therapy.
• Recipients of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy).

Active treatment with the following categories of immunosuppressive therapies:

• anti-B cell therapies** (monoclonal antibodies targeting CD19, CD20 and CD22)
  • **Active treatment for patients receiving B-cell depleting therapy includes patients who have completed treatment within 12 months.
• high-dose systemic corticosteroids (refer to the CIG for suggested definition of high dose steroids)
• alkylating agents
• antimetabolites
• tumour-necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors and other biologic agents that are significantly immunosuppressive

The following is a list of eligible immunosuppressant medications: 

NOTE: If you have been prescribed a medication that is not listed, contact your health care provider to receive a referral form for a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The list of medications may not be comprehensive; health care providers may identify patients on other medications that are significantly immunosuppressive.

Eligible to receive a booster (4th dose) 168 days after the 3rd dose (completion of the 3 dose primary series). Available as of September 1, 2022.

Eligible to receive two boosters (4th and 5th dose)

• The 1st booster  (4th dose) can be received 168 days after the 3rd dose (completion of the 3 dose primary series).
• The 2nd booster (5th dose) can be received 168 days after the 4th dose (1st booster).
• With informed consent after a discussion with a health care provider, an earlier booster dose is possible
• Note: Individuals 12-29 are recommended to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. See the Vaccine Facts page for more details.

Eligible to receive two boosters (4th and 5th dose)

• Note: Individuals 18-29 are recommended to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. See the Vaccine Facts page for more details.
• First booster dose at 140 days (5 months) after their second dose The booster can be given at a minimum of 84 days (3 months)  with informed consent. However, the longer interval of 140 days (5 month) is recommended as it is likely to result in a better immune response, higher vaccine effectiveness and longer duration of protection.
• Second booster dose at 140 days (5 months) after their second dose The booster can be given at a minimum of 84 days (3 months)  with informed consent. However, the longer interval of 140 days (5 month) is recommended as it is likely to result in a better immune response, higher vaccine effectiveness and longer duration of protection.
  • Most individuals in this age group will continue to have strong protection more than six months after their first booster dose. However, those with underlying health conditions who are at a greater risk for hospitalization OR those who do not want to risk transmitting COVID-19 to individuals who may be more vulnerable to an infection (e.g. adults who are 70 years and older; those with weaker immune systems due to treatments or illness) are encouraged to receive their second booster dose.

Eligible to receive two boosters (4th and 5th dose).

• First booster dose at 140 days (5 months) after their second dose The booster can be given at a minimum of 84 days (3 months) with informed consent. However, the longer interval of 140 days (5 month) is recommended as it is likely to result in a better immune response, higher vaccine effectiveness and longer duration of protection.
• Second booster dose at 140 days (5 months) after their second dose The booster can be given at a minimum of 84 days (3 months) with informed consent. However, the longer interval of 140 days (5 month) is recommended as it is likely to result in a better immune response, higher vaccine effectiveness and longer duration of protection. 

• Health care providers who are currently providing the COVID-19 vaccine will administer third and booster doses to their patients.
• Patients of the TBRHSC Renal Program will be contacted by the program and arrangements will be made for them to receive their doses.

• A completed referral form must be obtained from your health care provider and then taken to a pharmacy or the CLE Coliseum Clinic in Thunder Bay.
• Those who are eligible because of a medication can bring the prescription/medication bottle to a pharmacy or the TBDHU CLE Coliseum clinic instead of the referral form. 
• Those who want to receive their immunization at the TBDHU CLE Coliseum do not need to make an appointment but can walk-in.

• Visit the District Immunization Clinics page to learn more including when and where the vaccines will be offered in your community as well as details on how to book an appointment. A completed referral form must be obtained from your health care provider so it can be given as proof of your eligibility at the clinic.