Vaccines for COVID-19: How to get vaccinated or register

Getting an appointment

Visit your provincial or territorial website to find out:

how to register or cancel
who can be vaccinated now
vaccination locations

Check how, when and where you can get vaccinated:

Who is eligible

COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Canada are free. They're available to priority populations first. They'll then be available to everyone who is recommended to get the vaccine by federal, provincial and territorial public health authorities.

This applies to:

everyone in Canada, including those who aren't citizens and who are over the:
- age of 12 for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
- age of 18 for the Moderna vaccine
- age of 18 for the AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD vaccine
- age of 18 for the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine
Canadians serving in diplomatic and consular missions abroad (and their dependents) living in countries where the Health Canada-approved vaccines aren't available
Canadian Armed Forces members who are serving abroad in countries where the Health Canada-approved vaccines aren't available

Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect our families, communities and ourselves against COVID-19.

How many people in Canada have gotten the COVID-19 vaccine

When to consult with your doctor

For some people, the decision to get vaccinated will require consideration of risks versus benefits.

Consult with your doctor or health care provider if you:

have questions or concerns about vaccination
are unsure if you should receive the COVID-19 vaccine
are immunocompromised due to a disease ortreatment, such as chemotherapy
have a severe allergy to an ingredient in the COVID-19 vaccine
have experienced mild to moderate immediate allergic reactions after a previous dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine
are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19
have a bleeding disorder

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for people who:

are pregnant or breastfeeding
have autoimmune disorders
are immunosuppressed

If you’re immunosuppressed from disease or treatment, you may have a reduced immune response to any COVID-19 vaccine.

Benefits of vaccination

Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect our families, communities and ourselves against COVID-19. Evidence indicates that vaccines are effective at preventing serious outcomes, such as severe illness, hospitalization and death due to COVID-19.

Most COVID-19 vaccines require 2 doses to be fully vaccinated. While current evidence shows good effectiveness after 1 dose, a second dose is essential for longer-lasting and optimal protection. For your second dose, return at the time advised by your health care provider.

Continue to follow public health measures

While vaccines are rolling out:

continue to follow the advice of your local public health authority
keep strictly using multiple personal preventive practices at once whether you've been vaccinated or not

This protects yourself, your family and your community.

As more vaccines are given, some of the more restrictive public health measures can be lifted. Learn more about life after vaccination.

Recommended priority groups

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization has provided guidance on who should get vaccinated first.

Your province or territory will decide who will be prioritized.

At-risk groups identified by the committee include:

residents and staff of shared living settings who provide care for seniors
older adults
health care workers
adults in Indigenous communities
residents and staff of other shared living settings, such as:
- quarters for migrant workers
- shelters
- correctional facilities
- group homes
adults in racialized and marginalized communities
first responders, including:
- police
- military
- firefighters
- coast guard

Learn more about:

How groups are chosen for early vaccination

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) is an independent committee of experts that provides advice to the Public Health Agency of Canada. This advice is then distributed and published to inform decision making by provinces and territories, which are responsible for

administering vaccines
deciding which populations will receive them first

Recommendations aim to reduce serious illness and death while reducing disruptions in society.

NACI chooses groups for early vaccination by looking at risk factors for severe COVID-19 disease and outcomes, such as:

biological factors like:
- advanced age
- pre-existing medical conditions
social factors like:
- low socioeconomic status
- belonging to a racialized population

The decision-making process also includes ethical elements, such as:

equity
feasibility
acceptability

These recommendations aim to reduce disruptions in society due to the pandemic by prioritizing those who:

provide essential services
take additional risks to protect the public

Recommendations are based on:

population-based analysis of the risks and benefits that considers:
- risk of exposure to COVID-19, including:
  - ability to physically distance
  - access to other measures to prevent infection
- risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19
- how safe and effective authorized vaccines are in key populations
results of clinical trials
vaccine supply, which is the timing of available doses and the number of:
- available vaccine types
- doses each group needs
the current pandemic situation when vaccines become available

Provinces and territories may have to adjust their strategy depending on:

local trends
transmission rates
vaccine management logistics

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