Vaccination opportunities: August 2023

COVID-19 vaccination

Public Health Sudbury & Districts (Public Health) recommends that eligible individuals in need of a COVID-19 booster dose consider waiting until the fall to get their vaccine, in line with recent recommendations released by the Ontario Ministry of Health. Doing so will provide greater protection before the typical increase of respiratory illnesses in the fall and winter months.

For anyone starting, completing, or re-starting a primary COVID-19 series, contact Public Health to book an appointment as soon as possible. Individuals can choose to receive their booster dose before the fall based on their own health status and personal situation, and in consultation with your health care provider. Before booking an appointment for a booster dose, please speak to your health care provider to determine if you should get your booster dose sooner than this fall. Booster dose appointments will be made available for those who have received a recommendation from a health care provider or Public Health.

Public Health continues to offer COVID-19 vaccination at its office locations this summer, by appointment only. Individuals can also check with pharmacies or their primary care providers for additional vaccination opportunities.

Vaccination opportunities for the month of August 2023

Public Health may occasionally need to cancel clinics due to unforeseen circumstances, including inclement weather events that impact clinic operations. In the event a clinic is cancelled, all clients with a booked appointment will be offered an alternate opportunity. Where feasible, some cancelled clinics will be rescheduled. For regular updates, follow us on social media @PublicHealthSD (Facebook, Twitter). Visit us online for up-to-date clinic details, including the clinic times and locations, vaccine type or routine immunization that is planned at phsd.ca/COVID-19/vaccine-clinics.

Wednesday, August 9

Appointment-only clinics

• Public Health Sudbury & Districts, main office, Sudbury
  • Primary series for those 6 months of age and older.
  • Booster doses by recommendation only.

Thursday, August 10

Appointment-only clinics

• Public Health Sudbury & Districts, Espanola Office, Espanola
  • Primary series for those 6 months of age and older.
  • Booster doses by recommendation only.

Tuesday, August 15

Appointment-only clinics

• CANCELLED Public Health Sudbury & Districts, Manitoulin Island Office, Mindemoya
  • Primary series for those 6 months of age and older.
  • Booster doses by recommendation only.

Wednesday, August 16

Appointment-only clinics

• Public Health Sudbury & Districts, main office, Sudbury
  • Primary series for those 5 and older.
  • Booster doses by recommendation only.
• CANCELLED—Public Health Sudbury & Districts, Chapleau Office, Chapleau
  • Primary series for those 6 months of age and older.
  • Booster doses by recommendation only.

Wednesday, August 23

Appointment-only clinics

• Public Health Sudbury & Districts, main office, Sudbury
  • Primary series for those 6 months of age and older.
  • Booster doses by recommendation only.

Wednesday, August 30

Appointment-only clinics

• Public Health Sudbury & Districts, main office, Sudbury
  • Primary series for those 5 and older and older.
  • Booster doses by recommendation only.

Book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment

To book an appointment, please call 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200). COVID-19 vaccination opportunities are also available through local pharmacies or your primary care provider.

Clinic services

Sensory-friendly service (COVID-19)

Sensory-friendly services may be available, as needed.

Vaccine-to-vehicle service (COVID-19)

Vaccine-to-vehicle is a service available at select clinics for individuals who are unable to receive their vaccine within a clinic setting for reasons such as sensory sensitivities, decreased mobility, or other health concerns. An immunizer will come outside to the parking lot to provide the vaccine to individuals in their vehicle. Please note that during extreme weather or extreme cold that your appointment may be rebooked to ensure everyone’s safety.

Appointments for sensory-friendly or vaccine-to-vehicle services can only be booked by phone at 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200). The call centre is open Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and is closed on statutory holidays. Booking online is not available.

Questions about vaccination

Learn about Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccines.

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines

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.

Eligibility

COVID-19 vaccines

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. For those 5 years of age and older, it means completion of a primary series and receipt of the currently recommended booster dose.

Effective July 7, 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.

Preparing for a vaccination appointment

All vaccination clinics have COVID-safety measures in place. You must not attend a clinic if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 or if you are in isolation due to a COVID-19 exposure.

• Bring your health card. If you do not have a health card or your health card is expired, bring another form of government-issued photo identification such as a driver’s license, passport, Status card, or birth certificate.
• Eat and drink something before you arrive at your appointment to prevent feeling faint or dizzy while being vaccinated.
• Do not show up until 5 minutes before your scheduled appointment.
• When possible, please limit the number of support people attending a vaccination clinic to one person.
• Wear a top that allows for easy access to the upper arm such as a loose-fitting top or a T-shirt.
• Wear a medical mask that covers your nose, mouth, and chin. If you do not have a medical mask, pediatric and adult medical masks will be available at the entrance to the clinic.

For more information or if you have questions, please talk to trusted sources such as Public Health immunizers, health care providers, and pharmacists, visit phsd.ca/COVID-19, or call Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200).