Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine
Protect yourself and get vaccinated
Protect yourself against COVID-19 by layering protective measures including continuing to wear a well-fitted mask in indoor public settings, practising physical distancing, screening for symptoms, staying home when ill, and staying up-to-date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccinations.
COVID-19 vaccine eligibility and current recommendation
Get vaccinated and stay up-to-date. It is important that you receive all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including any booster doses when recommended to do so to stay up-to-date. Doing so will help you to build long-term protection against COVID-19 and will provide protection against severe illness, including hospitalization and death. Visit our COVID-19 vaccination recommendations and eligibility page.
In Ontario, for those 6 months to 4 years of age, staying up to date means you have completed the initial dose(s) of a COVID-19 vaccine. This is also referred to as the primary series. For those 5 years of age and older, it means completion of a primary series and receipt of the currently recommended booster dose.
Effective the week of July 10, 2023, individuals 5 years and older should consider delaying receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine booster until fall 2023. As the respiratory season commences, receiving a booster dose will maximize protection against COVID-19 when peak circulation of the virus is expected. The decision to receive a booster dose prior to the fall may be appropriate for certain individuals based on their unique health status and personal situation. Individuals are encouraged to speak with their health care provider before booking an appointment in the summer.
Vaccination clinics for COVID-19
Eligible individuals seeking a COVID-19 vaccine can book an appointment at a Public Health clinic by contacting our offices and speaking with a public health nurse. They can also contact their health care provider, a participating pharmacy (Government of Ontario), or health centre. For details on upcoming vaccination clinics and eligibility, visit our COVID-19 vaccination and recommendations clinics page.
Doses administered
Public Health Sudbury & Districts reports COVID-19 vaccination data Wednesdays at 4 p.m.
COVID-19 vaccines
mRNA COVID-19 vaccine
All Public Health clinics offer mRNA vaccine brands – either Moderna Spikevax or Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty, primary series and booster doses to eligible individuals. Public Health clinics will primarily offer the bivalent mRNA vaccines at each clinic. The monovalent vaccines will be available in limited supply for the completion or initiation of a primary series for all individuals 6 months and older who refuse to receive the recommended bivalent vaccine.
The bivalent mRNA vaccines include two strains of the COVID-19 virus: the original COVID-19 strain and the Omicron variant strain. Evidence shows that Omicron-containing mRNA vaccines induce a stronger and more robust immune response and are expected to provide improved protection against circulating Omicron variants compared to the original mRNA vaccines. They also help restore immune protection that has decreased since the previous vaccination.
Non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccines
Public Health will order a limited supply of the Novavax Nuvaxovid vaccine as needed for offering in the fall of 2023. Novavax Nuvaxovid may be offered to individuals who are 12 years old without contraindications to the vaccine who are not able or willing to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
Eligible individuals may request to be added to a waiting list to receive a non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Eligible individuals will be contacted directly by Public Health in the fall to book an appointment. There are limited vaccination opportunities for non-mRNA vaccines.
Please note that Janssen Inc. previously offered a viral vector single dose COVID-19 vaccine; however, on June 28, 2023, they submitted a voluntary recall to Health Canada for the product because of a business decision and not as the result of any health or safety concerns related to the vaccine. As such, the JCOVDEN (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine is no longer available. Clients are encouraged to contact Public Health or speak with their health care provider to discuss non-mRNA vaccine options.
Learn more about the Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccines.
Report your COVID-19 vaccination(s) in the provincial database (COVaxON)
If your COVID-19 vaccination records are not in the provincial online database or if you have received a COVID-19 vaccination outside of Ontario or Canada, we encourage you to submit your proof of vaccinations to help public health agencies monitor vaccine coverage and to have your COVID-19 immunization record documented in the provincial system (COVaxON).
COVID-19 vaccine resources
Public Health Sudbury & Districts has several free downloadable resources. Visit our COVID-19 vaccine resource page and our child and youth vaccine toolkit.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine? Check out our vaccine FAQ section to find out about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines, who are eligible for vaccination, and more.
To learn even more, visit our COVID-19 vaccine resources page, or contact Public Health by calling 705.522.9200 (toll-free: 1.866.522.9200).
If you are a health care provider please read our Advisory Alerts for more information.
This item was last modified on September 13, 2023