Spring 2024 vaccine program
Public Health plans to offer spring doses of COVID-19 vaccine to eligible groups starting from of April 1, 2024. Individuals are encouraged to book their COVID-19 vaccine as soon are they are eligible. COVID-19 vaccine appointments will be limited at Public Health Sudbury & Districts.
Vaccine eligibility
Certain individuals aged 6 months and older can receive the XBB.1.5-containing COVID-19 mRNA vaccine during the Spring 2024 Program. Currently, Moderna Spikevax and Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty have XBB.1.5-containing formulations approved by Health Canada. Eligible groups for the Spring 2024 season are as follows:
- Adults 65 years of age or older.
- Adult residents of long-term care homes and other congregate living settings for seniors.
- Individuals 6 months of age and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised (due to an underlying condition or treatment).
- Individuals 55 years of age and older who identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Metis and their non-indigenous household members who are 55 years of age and older.
All other individuals that are not listed above should wait for further Ontario Ministry of Health recommendations. This includes individuals who are not eligible as per the above populations and did not receive a dose during the Fall 2023 season.
Please note: Public Health will no longer be providing the original monovalent COVID-19 mRNA vaccine formulations or the bivalent COVID-19 mRNA vaccine formulations.
Novavax Nuvaxovid is available for people 12 years of age and older who are not willing to receive an mRNA vaccine or who have not been able to accept an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine due to symptoms or conditions. Eligible individuals may request an appointment to receive Novavax Nuvaxovid by calling Public Health & Sudbury Districts at 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200).
Staying up to date
Evidence suggests the protection you get from COVID-19 vaccines and/or previous COVID-19 infection decreases over time. The current recommendation is to receive a COVID-19 dose when eligible to maintain immunity and offer protection against infection (including long COVID), serious illness, hospitalization and death.
The Ministry of Health recommends a dose of the XBB formulation for eligible individuals 6 months and older who have been previously vaccinated against COVID-19, if it has been 6 months from the previous COVID-19 vaccine dose or known infection (whichever is later).
Individuals who have NOT been previously vaccinated may use the XBB formulation to start their series.
Vaccine types
Public Health Sudbury & Districts (Public Health) offers vaccines that have been approved by Health Canada. All COVID-19 vaccines being administered have been determined to be safe and effective and intended to provide strong protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty and Moderna Spikevax are examples of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
Non-mRNA vaccines include viral vector-based vaccines, protein subunit vaccines and plant-based vaccines. Public Health offers the Novavax Nuvaxovid (COVID-19 protein subunit vaccine) to those individuals who are not able or willing to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
To learn more about Health Canada approved vaccines visit: Vaccines for COVID-19.
Previously vaccinated individuals
For those aged 5 years and older, previously vaccinated includes individuals who have previously been vaccinated with at least 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In this situation, these individuals are eligible to receive a dose of an XBB.1.5-containing mRNA vaccine 6 months (168 days) after their last dose or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Individuals may receive the vaccine at a shortened minimum interval of 3 months (84 days) with informed consent.
For those aged 6 months to 4 years, previously vaccinated means they have completed either a Moderna Spikevax 2 dose-series (3 dose-series if immunocompromised); a Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty 3 dose-series (4 dose-series if immunocompromised); or a mixed (Moderna Spikevax and Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty) 3 or 4 dose-series. These individuals would also be recommended to receive a dose of an XBB.1.5-containing mRNA vaccine 6 months (168 days) after their last dose or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (minimum 84 days with informed consent).
Infants and children aged 6 months to 4 years, who have not completed their initial vaccine series (2 dose-series if Moderna Spikevax monovalent or bivalent or 3 dose-series if Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty monovalent), the recommendation is to complete the series with the appropriate number of doses using an XBB.1.5-containing mRNA vaccine. Where possible, the same vaccine product (Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty or Moderna Spikevax) used for series initiation should also be used for series completion.
Individuals with no previous vaccinations
Individuals who were not previously vaccinated against COVID-19 are eligible to receive an XBB.1.5-containing COVID-19 mRNA vaccine according to their age, health status, and the vaccine formulation used:
- Those aged 5 years and older with no previous COVID-19 vaccinations only require 1 dose of an XBB formulation provided it has been 8 weeks (56 days) since their last confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection or symptom onset.
- For those aged 6 months to 4 years, the recommended vaccine schedule is 2 doses of Moderna Spikevax XBB.1.5 vaccine 8 weeks (56 days) apart or 3 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty XBB.1.5 vaccine 8 weeks (56 days) between doses.
Other vaccine products
Individuals who are not able or willing to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine are recommended to receive the Novavax Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine. An XBB formulation of Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is expected soon and is currently under review by Health Canada. Those 12 years and older who have not been previously vaccinated may use the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine to complete the 2 dose-series; an additional dose may be needed for individuals who are immunocompromised. Previously vaccinated individuals, 18 years and older, who are not able or willing to receive an mRNA COVID-19 may receive a Novavax Nuvaxovid dose.
Vaccination after COVID-19 infection
COVID-19 vaccination is still recommended regardless of whether you have had a COVID-19 infection. Your body will build antibodies to help fight COVID-19 after being infected, however, after time your immunity will wane and you can be re-infected with COVID-19.
*It is important to note that the longer interval between infection and vaccination may result in a better immune response.
Table 1: Recommended Intervals Between Previous SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19 Vaccination
| Infection Timing Relative to COVID-19 Vaccination | Population | Recommended Interval Between Infection** and Vaccination |
|---|---|---|
| Infection prior to completion or initiation of primary vaccination series. | Individuals 6 months of age and older who are not considered moderately to severely immunocompromised with no previous history of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and adults (MIS-C and MIS-A). Individuals 6 months of age and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised and with no previous history of multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) Individuals 6 months of age and older with a previous history of multisystem inflammatory syndrome MIS-C and MIS-A (regardless of immunocompromised status) | Receive the vaccine 2 months (56 days) after symptom onset or positive test (if asymptomatic). Receive the vaccine dose 1 to 2 months (28 to 56 days) after symptom onset or positive test (if asymptomatic) Receive the vaccine dose when clinical recovery has been achieved or ≥ 90 days since the onset of MIS-C and MIS-A, whichever is longer |
| Infection in individuals who have been previously vaccinated | Individuals currently eligible for a fall 2023 COVID-19 dose(s) | Receive vaccine dose 3 to 6 months (84 to 168 days) after previous COVID-19 infection characterized by positive test or after having symptoms post contact with someone who had a positive test. |
If you have received a vaccine outside of Ontario/Canada
If you are an individual 6 months of age and older that has been vaccinated with 1 or more non-Health Canada approved vaccine(s), you are recommended to receive 1 or more doses of the COVID-19 XBB.1.5 vaccine at a recommended interval that is based on your age, previous immunization history, and previous confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (if applicable). It is particularly important for those individuals at high-risk from COVID-19, including those with a potential for greater impact of infection, to receive a dose of the XBB formulation this fall.
Please report your COVID-19 vaccination(s) in the provincial database (COVaxON) or contact Public Health Sudbury & Districts to have your immunization record updated. We will require proof of vaccination, for example, an immunization record or proof of vaccine certificate (PVC). Please contact us at 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200). Once we have updated your immunization record and reviewed the details of the specific vaccine you received, you will be able to book your next vaccine appointment via telephone or online.
Post-transplant re-vaccination
Re-vaccination is recommended (Government of Ontario, PDF) with a COVID-19 vaccine series be initiated given the loss of immunity following:
- hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT)
- hematopoietic cell transplants (HCT) (autologous or allogeneic)
- CAR-T-cell therapy
Contact your health care provider if any of the above conditions apply to you after your COVID-19 vaccination. You may be recommended to be re-vaccinated due to loss of immunity following therapy or transplant. This is determined in consultation with your clinical team. If it is determined that you need to restart your primary series, bring a copy of the referral form to your vaccination appointments, indicating that you are restarting your primary series.