COVID-19 Vaccines

Certain group at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 are recommended to receive an additional vaccine dose during spring 2024 for added protection that may have decreased over time.

Recommended groups for spring 2024 include anyone who is:

• aged 65 years and older
• a resident of a long-term care home or other congregate living setting for seniors
• aged 6 months and older and are moderately to severely immunocompromised (due to an underlying condition or treatment)
• aged 55 years and older and identify as Indigenous or their non-Indigenous household member and are aged 55 years and older

All other individuals are not recommended to receive a COVID-19 vaccine dose this spring and should wait until further recommendations are available closer to fall 2024 UNLESS it is it is recommended from a health care provider.

NEVER BEEN VACCINATED? Those who are 6 months and older who have never received any doses of COVID-19 vaccine are recommended and are eligible to receive a dose. 

UNSURE OF YOUR VACCINE STATUS? If you have questions about your vaccination status, please speak with your health care provider or call the Health Unit at 807-625-5900 in Thunder Bay or your local branch office. \

• People are recommended to wait at least 6 months (168 days) after their last COVID-19 vaccine dose or confirmed COVID-19 infection to get another dose
  • Use this online tool to calculate days since the last dose.
• For the most up-to-date guidance on the timing of COVID-19 vaccine doses, visit Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccines webpage.
• If you have questions or concerns about these intervals, please speak to your health care provider or call 807-625-5900 (in Thunder Bay) or your local branch office to speak to a TBDHU nurse.

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TBDHU is NOT offering a COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at the CLE in Thunder Bay during the Spring 2024 Campaign. COVID-19 vaccines are available from:

• Pharmacies: To find a pharmacy offering COVID-19 vaccines, visit covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations.
• Some Health Care Providers: Contact your primary care provider to see if they are offering COVID-19 vaccines.
• For Children 2 Years Old or Younger: Appointments at the Health Unit: A limited number of COVID-19 vaccine appointments will be available to children 2 years old or younger at TBDHU’s Main Office Clinic. Appointments can be booked by calling 807-625-5900 and pressing 1. Visit the Immunization Clinics page to learn more.
• Indigenous Service Providers: Eligibility for health services may vary with the organization; please check with them first before you go to be vaccinated:
  • ONWA’s Mindimooyenh Clinic
  • Matawa Health Co-operative
  • Dilico Anishnabek Family Care
  • Anishnawbe Mushkiki
• First Nation Communities: People living in First Nations communities can ask their health clinic or nursing about in-community vaccine access. Vaccines are also available to urban Indigenous people in Thunder Bay and surrounding areas through the following organizations.
• Appointments at Home: TBDHU nursing staff will visit those who are unable to leave their home to receive a vaccine. Call 807-625-5900 to learn more about this program. Due to the high demand for this program, it may take a few weeks before TBDHU can provide an at-home COVID-19 vaccination. To avoid long wait times, we encourage anyone who can leave their home to be vaccinated through other community options such as pharmacies or health care providers. Only people who cannot leave their home should call for this accommodation.

Live in the District? (outside of the City of Thunder Bay)

• Visit the District COVID-19 Immunization Clinics page for more information on vaccine clinics in district communities.

• Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty COVID-19 Vaccine  (mRNA; XBB)
• Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 Vaccine (mRNA; XBB)
• Novavax Nuvaxovid COVID-19 Vaccine (protein subunit; XBB approved; see the note below regarding availability)

Individuals who are recommended to receive a dose of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine should get it as soon as they are able, at the clinic that is most convenient to them, regardless of which mRNA vaccine the clinic is offering. 

Please speak to your health care provider or allergist if you have an allergy or contradiction to any of these vaccines.

Requesting Novavax

mRNA vaccines are widely available in the TBDHU area. The Novavax vaccine must be requested from the TBDHU by calling your local branch office or emailing vaccines@tbdhu.com. TBDHU will follow up once supply is received. 

The following vaccines are no longer available in Ontario. 

• AstraZeneca Vaxzevria COVID-19 Vaccine
• Janssen Jcovden (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine
• Medicago Covifenz COVID-19 vaccine

Individuals who were interested in these vaccines are encouraged to call TBDHU to speak with a nurse about what vaccines are currently available or to discuss options with their health care provider.

The COVID-19 vaccine cannot give you COVID-19. 

However, the human body typically takes a few weeks to build immunity from a vaccine, so somebody may get infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before vaccination or right after.

Based on guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), COVID-19 vaccines may be given at the same time as, or any time before or after, most other vaccines, including live or non-live vaccines for anyone age 6 months and older.

Two vaccines that should NOT be given at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine are the mpox vaccine (Imvamune®) and the RSV vaccine (Arexvy®).

Individuals 6 months and older can safely receive a different product than the one they received for their last dose.  However, some vaccine products may be preferred based on availability or your age group.

It is normal to experience some common, mild and temporary symptoms after immunization. Common side effects may include: soreness, swelling and/or redness at the injection site, mild fever, and fatigue. 

As with all vaccines, there is a chance that there will be a serious side effect, but these are rare. If you develop any serious side effects (trouble breathing, high fever, hives) within 3 days of receiving the vaccine, seek medical attention immediately. 

Yes. COVID-19 vaccines are recommended at any stage in pregnancy (including first trimester), as COVID-19 infection during pregnancy can be severe, and the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks. 

COVID-19 vaccines are also safe for anyone who is breastfeeding or chestfeeding. Antibodies that help protect against COVID-19 have been shown to transfer through breast or chest milk to help protect the infant. mRNA from the vaccines has not been found to transfer into breast or chest milk. 

For additional information about the COVID-19 vaccine before, during, and after pregnancy, visit the Ministry of Health’s page on COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy. 

The following resources can help parents prepare.

• Timeline leading up to the immunization to improve the experience
• Pain Management During Immunizations for Children
• CARD™ (C - Comfort, A - Ask, R - Relax, D - Distract) System; preparing for immunization

TBDHU can provide the COVID-19 vaccine to those without an OHIP or Ontario Health Card at its COVID-19 vaccine clinics.

Check the Thunder Bay or District clinic schedules for more details or call your local branch office. 

Many pharmacies can also provide COVID-19 vaccines without an Ontario health card, but you should call the pharmacy first to confirm.

When you receive a COVID-19 vaccine dose in Ontario, you should receive an email with a link to an enhanced vaccine certificate. Your certificate can also be accessed through the COVID-19 Vaccination Portal (not accessible using Internet Explorer), or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900.

You can download your certificate in PDF format to your computer, phone or tablet, or print it. If you do not have access to a printer, visit your local library, go to a ServiceOntario location or ask a trusted friend or organization. 

If your vaccine is NOT approved for use in Canada, contact your closest TBDHU branch office to discuss your situation and receive guidance on your next steps. 

If your vaccine IS approved for use in Canada:

It is possible but not always necessary to have your doses recorded in COVaxON, the system for tracking COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario. However, having your doses recorded in COVaxON will make it easier for you to book appointments for additional doses while you are in Ontario.

To have your doses entered into COVaxON, please call your local TBDHU branch office or email vaccines@tbdhu.com to discuss requirements. You will need to provide your proof of immunization and either your Ontario Health Card or your photo ID. 

Please contact your local TBDHU branch office if you have any questions or require any support.