Getting Your COVID-19 Vaccine

If you have been identified as eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, please read ‘What you need to know about your COVID-19 vaccine appointment’ to know what to expect for your upcoming vaccination.

• Call 211 and ask about transportation.
• GTR Transportation: https://bit.ly/2SvZcZ8 for routes and fares.
• Do you have a physical disability or mobility issue and no acess to safe transportation during COVID-19? The Acessible Drive to Vaccines Program provides door-to-door rides to vaccination sites for people with disabilities, including seniors with mobility issues, who face challenges accessing safe transportation. For more information or to Request a Ride.

You can receive your second COVID-19 vaccine 28 days after your first mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna).

If you received a first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine, the second dose can be scheduled 8 to 12 weeks after the first, with informed consent. If you wish to receive an mRNA vaccine for a second dose you can visit a vaccination clinic or book an appointment through a participating pharmacy. For individuals who wish to receive second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, individuals can contact the pharmacy or primary care provider where they received their first dose.

There are many pop-up and drop-in clinics offered in Grey Bruce. Please see our vaccine schedule at https://www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/ for more information.  Select primary care and pharmacies are also offering COVID-19 vaccines. To find your closest pharmacy visit: COVID-19 pharmacy vaccine locations (ontario.ca).

On August 17, 2021, the province announced updates to COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to protect individuals most at risk of serious illness from the virus. Ontario’s Updated COVID-19 Vaccination Eligibility | Ontario Newsroom

A complete two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series provides strong protection against COVID-19 infection and severe outcomes, including against the Delta variant, in the general population. However, for some populations, a third dose may be required to provide sufficient protection based on a suboptimal or waning immune response to vaccines and increased risk of COVID-19 infection.

Certain immunocompromised individuals eligible for third doses are:

• Transplant recipients (including solid organ transplant and hematopoietic stem cell transplants)
• Patients with hematological cancers (examples include lymphoma, myeloma, leukemia) on active treatment (chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy) for malignant hematologic disorders
• Recipients of an anti-CD20 agent (e.g. rituximab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab)

Individuals in these groups are eligible to receive their third dose at a minimum of eight weeks following their second dose and will be contacted by their health care provider such as their primary care provider, specialist, or their hospital specialty program. Individuals unable to receive the vaccine from their providers can ask for a form from them indicating the patient’s eligibility. The form can be taken to participating physicians, who will administer the vaccine.

Immunocompromised clients who are unable to access a third-dose vaccine from their healthcare provider may attend any of the vaccine clinics hosted by the Grey Bruce Health Unit. No appointment is necessary. Clients must be eligible in the categories described above and must provide the written provincial documentation signed by their physician, including the physician’s CPSO number. No other document or attestation will be accepted.

Media Release, August 31, 2021: Third Dose Vaccine for Certain Immunocompromised Patients - News Releases (publichealthgreybruce.on.ca)

Individuals in congregate settings eligible for third doses are:

• Residents of high-risk congregate settings including long-term care homes, higher-risk licensed retirement homes and First Nations elder care lodges

Third doses will be offered to these individuals within the home. The third dose can be administered at a minimum of five months following their second dose.

Media Release, August 31, 2021: Third Dose Vaccine in High-Risk Congregate Settings - News Releases (publichealthgreybruce.on.ca)

Anyone 12 years of age and older in 2021 can receive a vaccine.

Based on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, starting on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, the province is expanding eligibility for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to all youth who are turning 12 in 2021, based on the most currently available empirical evidence. Ontario has closely monitored data from Alberta and British Columbia where the Pfizer vaccine has been offered to youth born in 2009 for several months with no risks identified. This will help to ensure even more students have the opportunity to receive the vaccine and ensure strong protection against COVID-19 and the Delta variant as they return to school.

Ontario’s Updated COVID-19 Vaccination Eligibility | Ontario Newsroom

On June 3, 2021 Ontario updated guidance for individuals who received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and who have not yet received their second dose, to allow for the mixing of COVID-19 vaccines if desired. This decision is in alignment with updated guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommendation. Ontario Updating AstraZeneca Second Dose Guidance | Ontario Newsroom.  Ontarians who have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine can choose to either receive a second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, or an mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) vaccine for their second dose. Both second-dose options available to individuals who received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine are safe and provide strong protection against COVID-19 and will count as a completed series.

On June 12^th, 2021, Ontario accelerated the second dose interval for individuals who received their first dose of an AstraZeneca vaccine. With informed consent, individuals can choose between a second dose of AstraZeneca or an mRNA vaccine, at an 8 to 12-week interval, recognizing that while waiting 12 weeks helps to ultimately provide more protection, some may choose to receive their second dose sooner to have the increased protection provided by a second dose earlier. All of these options provide protection against COVID-19, including the Delta variant, and have been deemed safe.

Individuals who wish to receive an mRNA vaccine for their second dose can visit a Grey Bruce vaccination clinic or a participating pharmacy. For individuals who wish to receive second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, individuals can contact the pharmacy or primary care provider where they received their first dose.

Ontario Accelerates Second Doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine | Ontario Newsroom

If you has an AstraZeneca / COVISHIELD COVID-19 vaccine as your first dose, you have a choice about the type of vaccine you would like for your second dose. COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Individuals who received a first dose of the AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD COVID-19 vaccine (gov.on.ca).

Ontarians who received a first dose of an mRNA vaccine should be offered the same mRNA vaccine for their second dose. If the same mRNA vaccine is not readily available, another mRNA vaccine can be offered instead to complete the vaccine series. NACI’s guidance advises that the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines can be safely interchanged for first and second doses if the original mRNA vaccine is not readily available.

Q and A for Health Care Providers on Heterologous COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Schedule

Interchangeable Vaccines Provide a Safe and Effective Second Dose - News Releases (publichealthgreybruce.on.ca)

Yes. Until a vaccine is widely available and a large percentage of the population becomes immune to COVID-19, we all have to continue to follow public health measures and rules for our region and continue to take everyday actions to help stop the spread of the virus. Why?

• While the vaccine(s) offers protection against COVID-19, there is not sufficient data yet on prevention of transmission.
• It takes time for a vaccine to develop its protective effects (i.e. a month or longer).
• We are still experiencing high COVID-19 infection rates, which has placed intense strain on our hospitals and health systems, as well as the health care workers who have been on the front lines of this crisis for many months.
• Not everyone will get the vaccine, meaning there will still be a risk of transmission.
• For more information: About COVID-19 Vaccines (publichealthgreybruce.on.ca)

For these reasons it is important that everyone, including those who have been vaccinated, continue to physical distance, wear a mask when we can, and wash/sanitize our hands frequently.

After you are vaccinated, you can log in to the provincial portal to download or print an electronic COVID-19 vaccine receipt (PDF) for each dose you have received.

Receipts are available:

• for first and second doses received in Ontario (once you get them)
• regardless of where you were vaccinated (for example, at a mass immunization clinic, hospital, pharmacy or primary care setting)

To log in and get your receipt, you will need:

• a green photo health (OHIP) card (you will need numbers from both the front and back of the card, expired cards will be accepted)
• your date of birth
• your postal code (the one associated with your health card)

Visit: https://covid19.ontariohealth.ca/

If you have a red and white health card, call the Provincial Vaccine Booking Line at 1-833-943-3900. The call centre agent can email you a copy of your receipt.

How do I get a vaccine receipt printed?

Individuals who received their first dose or both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine outside of the province are now able to register their vaccination through their local public health unit. Please email the Grey Bruce Health Unit as covid19.vaccine@publichealthgreybruce.on.ca for help with registering your vaccine. If you are not able to email, call 519-376-9420.

Individuals who received a COVID-19 vaccine outside of Ontario or Canada are required to provide proof, such as a vaccination receipt or certificate, to their public health unit in order to be registered in the system. Once complete, these individuals will be able to book their second dose appointment through the provincial booking system, public health units that use their own booking system or participating pharmacies and primary care settings at an interval that aligns with Ontario’s vaccine strategy..

Currently, the following four COVID-19 vaccines are authorized for use by Health Canada: Pfizer-BioNTech (mRNA), Moderna (mRNA), AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD (viral vector) and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (viral vector). A number of vaccines are available in other countries that are not authorized for use in Canada.

Individuals who have received a partial or complete COVID-19 vaccine series outside of Ontario or Canada should contact their local public health unit to have their COVID-19 immunization record documented in COVaxON prior to receiving any additional doses and for their vaccination receipts.

Individuals who have proof of immunization and have received a complete one or two-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine that is not authorized for use by Health Canada will be offered one additional dose of an mRNA vaccine.

• The minimum interval between the preceding dose and the additional dose should be 28 days.
• If the individual has already received three doses of a non-Health Canada authorized COVID-19 vaccine at the appropriate interval, no additional doses should be offered at this time.

Individuals who have proof of immunization and have received an incomplete series of a non-Health Canada authorized vaccine, should receive one additional dose of an mRNA vaccine.

• The minimum interval between the preceding dose and the additional dose should be 28 days.

See Ontario’s COVID-19 Guidance for Individuals Vaccinated outside of Ontario/Canada for more.