COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics

A primary series is the first couple of vaccine doses a person needs to develop a strong initial immune response against COVID-19. Most people need two doses of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer, Moderna) or Novavax (for those 12 years of age and older) to complete their primary series. If you are immunocompromised (i.e. have a weakened immune system), you may need a three-dose primary series.

The primary series is given with the original COVID-19 vaccines that are monovalent, targeting the initial strains of COVID-19.

It is recommended to wait at least eight weeks after a first dose to get a second dose. In some situations, and after discussing the risks and benefits with your health care provider or at a York Region Public Health clinic, appointments for a second dose of Pfizer or Moderna can be booked 28 days after a first dose (i.e. for certain people with a weakened immune system or unexpected travel for compassionate reasons). This is known as informed consent.

If you get COVID-19 before finishing your primary vaccine series, you must wait two months (56 days) between infection and vaccination before getting another COVID-19 vaccine. The minimum wait time after a COVID-19 infection for people who are immunocompromised is one to two months (28 to 56 days) after infection before getting another COVID-19 vaccine to finish their primary series. 

Children six months to four years of age

The Paediatric Moderna vaccine for children six months to four years of age is given as a two-dose primary series for children without a weakened immune system, and a three-dose primary series for children who are immunocompromised. The second dose is usually given eight weeks after the first dose.

The Paediatric Pfizer vaccine for children six months to four years of age is given as a three-dose primary series for children without a weakened immune system, and a four-dose primary series for children who are immunocompromised. The recommended interval between each dose is eight weeks.

Children 5 to 11 years of age (paediatric dose) 

For a primary series, two doses of Pfizer is recommended over Moderna for everyone between five and 29 years of age.  

Individuals 12 years of age and older

For a primary series, two doses of Pfizer is recommended over Moderna for everyone between five and 29 years of age.  For those 30 years of age and older, either Moderna or Pfizer can be given.

Individuals who are immunocompromised (i.e., have a weakened immune system because of a disease or medication they are taking)

Individuals who have a weakened immune system who are six months of age and older should get three doses as part of their primary series or four doses if receiving the paediatric Pfizer vaccine. A third or fourth dose is available for moderately- to severely-immunocompromised individuals, as identified by the  Ministry of Health. Doses in the primary series should be given at least 28 days apart, but spreading the doses two months apart is ideal. 

To receive a third dose as part of the primary series, eligible individuals must present a completed form or letter indicating their eligibility from their specialist or hospital program. Prescriptions for immunosuppressant medications as identified by the Ministry of Health can also be presented.

Bivalent vaccines are designed to protect against both the original variant and Omicron variant of COVID-19. This results in stronger protection and immune response and offers a more targeted protection against the current Omicron variants compared to the previous mRNA vaccines offered.

Everyone five years of age and older is eligible for a bivalent booster dose.

If you haven’t received a booster dose yet, York Region Public Health strongly recommends you receive the bivalent booster dose as soon as you are eligible.

Everyone eligible for a booster dose must wait six months after their previous dose or six months after a confirmed COVID-19 infection before receiving a booster dose. At a six-month interval, the vaccine response tends to be stronger and the protection against COVID-19 disease lasts longer.

To get a bivalent booster you must have received a complete primary series of COVID-19 vaccines (for most people, this means two doses of an approved vaccine; for individuals with a weakened immune system, it means three doses of an approved vaccine).

If you haven’t received a booster dose yet, York Region Public Health strongly recommends you receive the bivalent booster dose as soon as you are eligible and able to book an appointment.

As of April 6, 2023, select groups are eligible and recommended to receive an additional booster dose of bivalent COVID-19 vaccine six months after their previous dose or a confirmed COVID-19 infection. You are recommended to receive an additional booster dose if you are:

• 65 years of age or older
• A resident of a long-term care home, retirement home, congregate setting for seniors or elder care lodge
• Pregnant
• Immunocompromised (18 years of age and older) 
• 55 years of age or older and identify as (or share a household with) a First Nations, Inuit or Metis individual

Everyone aged five and older not included on the list above is eligible to receive an additional bivalent booster dose six months after their last dose or confirmed COVID infection (e.g., based on an individual’s risk factors or a health care provider recommendation) although it is not recommended at this time.

Monovalent vaccine booster

Only those who are not eligible for a bivalent COVID-19 booster dose should get a monovalent COVID-19 booster dose. A monovalent booster dose targets the original SARS-CoV-2 virus strain from 2019.

Walk-in appointments for COVID-19 vaccines for individuals six months of age and older are available and will be accepted based on clinic capacity.

Town of Aurora

Town of Georgina

City of Markham

Town of Newmarket 

City of Richmond Hill 

City of Vaughan

York Region offers the following COVID-19 vaccination appointment types:

COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Clinic

All our mRNA clinics carry the following vaccines:

• Monovalent (original) vaccines: Pfizer
• Bivalent vaccines: Pfizer and Moderna 
• Paediatric vaccines: Paediatric Pfizer (six months to 11 years of age) and Paediatric Moderna (six months to four years of age)​​​​​

COVID-19 Non-mRNA Clinic

• Janssen (Johnson & Johnson)* and Novavax Nuvaxovid doses available

• Specialty non-mRNA clinics are offered once per month

Book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment

In-home vaccination request

York Region Public Health offers in-home vaccinations for people who live in York Region with challenges attending a clinic and their caregivers. This includes those who have physical, mental, or other needs and find it difficult to leave their home to receive the vaccine. Call Access York at 1-877-464-9675 to see if you qualify for an in-home vaccination. In-home vaccination appointments may take a few weeks to arrange.

Book an in-home vaccination

Partner-led clinics

City of Vaughan

Western York Region

Find your closest pharmacy offering the COVID-19 Vaccine

Most pharmacies book appointments ahead of time and some allow walk-ins. Check with the pharmacy before you go.

Find a Pharmacy

Visit covid19.ontariohealth.ca to obtain your enhanced vaccine certificate. Each enhanced certificate contains a QR code that can be saved to your phone or printed as a paper copy. 

Individuals can also call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 to obtain the enhanced vaccine certificate by email or mail.

York Region Public Health can update your personal information (e.g., name change) on your vaccination receipt only if the new information matches what is found on the Provincial health card registry. To update the registry, please contact Service Ontario.

Trans and non-binary people living in Ontario who have not updated their health card with their chosen name can now update their proof of vaccine certificate to reflect their chosen name.

How to update your Ontario COVID-19 vaccine certificate to your chosen name:

1. Walk into a York Region COVID-19 vaccination clinic 

2. Bring at least one form of identification (ID) showing your chosen name. This document or combination of documents from the list below must include your name, birth date and photo ID. Your birth date needs to be the same on all IDs but name and gender can be different.

NOTE: Photo ID is only required for those 18 years of age and older.

There are several forms of documentation which can be used including:

• Driver’s license
• Birth certificate
• Ontario Photo Card 
• Passport 
• Piece of registered mail 
• Pay stub 
• Student card 
• Library card 
• Club or organization ID cards 
• Government issued ID from other jurisdictions (foreign passports, other provincial/territorial health cards/driver’s license)

3.    A clinic staff member will update your name in the COVID-19 vaccine certificate database (COVaxON).

4.    Visit ontario.ca/page/covid-19-vaccines to download your updated certificate.

5.    If you need to travel outside of Canada but haven’t updated your passport with your chosen name, you will need to travel under your old IDs. If so, call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre (PVCC) and ask them to switch back your vaccine certificate to your former name/name on your Ontario health card. You can then download the vaccine certificate in your former name.

6.    When you return to Canada, call the PVCC again to switch your vaccine certificate back to your chosen name.

If you received a vaccine not approved by Health Canada, you may need additional dose(s) to be considered fully vaccinated.

If you have received one or two doses of a vaccine not approved by Health Canada, you should receive a single dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) to be fully vaccinated.

If you have received three doses of a vaccine not approved by Health Canada, you may be considered fully vaccinated, depending on the type of vaccine. Find the vaccine you received in the Appendix of Ontario’s COVID-19 Guidance for Individuals Vaccinated outside of Ontario/Canada to determine if another dose of mRNA vaccine is recommended.

If you have received:

• one or two doses of a vaccine not approved by Health Canada and one dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, or
• three doses of a vaccine not approved by Health Canada

you are eligible for a booster dose of a Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccine three months (84 days) after your last dose (18 years and older only). Visit a vaccine clinic as soon as you are eligible to receive your booster dose.

York Region Public Health maintains COVID-19 immunization records for York Region residents who have been immunized outside of Ontario.

Complete this online form if you have received:

• The first dose of a two dose vaccine series outside of Ontario. Your first dose will need to be documented before you receive your second dose. You will also be required to bring your documentation to the vaccine clinic when you attend your second dose appointment
• The second dose of a two dose vaccine series or a complete vaccine series outside of Ontario and wish to have the series documented in Ontario’s vaccine database
• First or second doses of a vaccine not approved by Health Canada

If you do not have a COVID-19 immunization record, please contact the location that administered your previous dose(s) to request a copy.

COVID-19 Immunized Outside of Ontario Form

All information collected by this secure form is confidential and will not be shared.

If you have been immunized through a York Region Public Health clinic, pharmacy or physician office, you do not need to upload any immunization records.