COVID-19 vaccination opportunities: week of December 20, 2021

Public Health Sudbury & Districts is offering several convenient opportunities in the Sudbury & Manitoulin districts this week to help you get your COVID-19 vaccine. Don’t delay. Get your first and second dose as soon as possible and your third dose if you are eligible. A reminder that second and third dose appointments must be booked after you have received your first dose.

Regularly scheduled Public Health COVID-19 vaccine clinics

• COVID-19 vaccination is available by appointment every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at the Carmichael Arena in Greater Sudbury, except for statutory holidays.
• COVID-19 vaccination is available every Wednesday by appointment at the Espanola Golf & Country Club, 309 Golf Club Road, Espanola, except for statutory holidays.

Vaccination opportunities for the week of December, 20

More opportunities may be added throughout the week. 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 mRNA vaccine brand that is planned at phsd.ca/COVID-19/vaccine-clinics.

Public Health has redeployed staff to quickly ramp up local capacity and vaccination appointments due to increased eligibility. We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding while clinic staff work diligently to offer vaccinations. Please be kind, be patient, and be respectful to one another; know that you may wait sometime before being immunized, and that our ability to immunize walk-ins is based upon having sufficient vaccine supplies. We are constantly working to increase our capacity. Be kind and stay safe.

Monday, December 20

Appointment only clinic(s)

• Public Health Sudbury & Districts’ Chapleau office, Chapleau

Appointment and walk-in clinic(s)

• Garson Community Centre and Arena, Garson
• Carmichael Arena, Sudbury
• Espanola Golf & Country Club, Espanola

Tuesday, December 21

Appointment only clinic(s)

• Public Health Sudbury & Districts’ Chapleau office, Chapleau
• Wiikwemkoong High school, Wiikwemkoong First Nation, Manitoulin Island

Appointment and walk-in clinic(s)

• Garson Community Centre and Arena, Garson
• Carmichael Arena, Sudbury
• M’Chigeeng Community Complex, 94 ON-551, M’Chigeeng First Nation, Manitoulin Island

Wednesday, December 22

Appointment only clinic(s)

• Carmichael Arena, in partnership with Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre—First Nation, Inuit, Metis and household members ONLY.
• Science North, Sudbury

Appointment and walk-in clinic(s)

• Espanola Golf & Country Club, Espanola
• Alban Community Centre, Alban

Walk-in clinic(s)

• Garson Community Centre and Arena, Garson

Thursday, December 23

Appointment and walk-in clinic(s)

• Garson Community Centre and Arena, Garson
• Carmichael Arena, Sudbury

Pharmacies and primary care

With many pharmacies and primary care providers providing COVID-19 vaccination, there are even more options available to get your first or second dose locally, every week. Visit covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations (Government of Ontario) for a list of pharmacies in Ontario offering COVID-19 vaccination and for booking information or contact your primary care provider.

Flu and COVID-19

As we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, getting your flu shot is also important to help save lives and reduce the burden on our health care system. The influenza and COVID-19 vaccines can be safely administered to individuals 12 years of age and older at the same time. Children 5 to 11 years of age must wait at least 14 days before or after receiving another vaccine prior to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. The influenza vaccine is readily available at many locations throughout the community, including local pharmacies and health care providers’ offices.

Questions about vaccination

Whether you have questions about getting your first, second, or third dose of vaccine or you have questions about youth vaccination, our clinic immunizers as well as our call centre staff can help answer your questions. Your health care provider is also a trusted source of reliable and credible information. Choosing vaccination is a choice and everyone deserves to have the information they need to be well informed.

Vaccine brands offered and supplies

All Public Health clinics offer one of two mRNA vaccine brands—either Moderna Spikevax or the pediatric and adult dose of Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty. Public Health Sudbury & Districts understands that shipments of adult vaccines will be limited to Moderna Spikevax vaccine for the next period of time. Individuals 30 years of age and older will be offered Moderna Spikevax vaccine until additional vaccine supply is received. A reminder that for those 30 and older, the adult dose of Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty and Moderna Spikevax vaccines can be safely interchanged. Based on vaccine supplies, the vaccine brand planned for use at any clinic is subject to change, possibly with limited notice. We encourage you to ask our immunizers for more information to help you make an informed decision and feel comfortable about getting either vaccine brand. To learn which mRNA vaccine brands are planned for our clinics, visit phsd.ca/COVID-19/vaccine-clinics.

Eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines

First dose eligibility

• Individuals born in 2016 or before can receive a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty pediatric dose (10 micrograms) is approved for children turning 5 years old by the end of 2021 (born in 2016). Children 5 to 11 years of age must wait at least 14 days before or after receiving another vaccine prior to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty (30 micrograms) is approved for youth turning 12 years old before the end of 2021 to age 17.
  • The Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty is preferentially recommended for individuals aged 18 to 29 years old and the only approved vaccine for youth aged 12 to 17.
  • Everyone aged 25 and over can receive either Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty or Moderna Spikevax. These 2 mRNA vaccines can be safely interchanged.

Second dose eligibility

• Children aged 5 to 11 (including those turning 5 in 2021) who received their first pediatric dose of Pfizer-BioNTech more than 8 weeks ago.
• Anyone born in 2009 (that means anyone turning 12 in 2021) and earlier who received their first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine more than 56 days (8 weeks) ago.
• Anyone who received their first dose of Moderna Spikevax vaccine more than 56 days (8 weeks) ago.
• People who received AstraZeneca Vaxzevria 56 days ago (at least 8 weeks) and who would like to get an mRNA vaccine.
• The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) and Ontario Ministry of Health recommend an optimal interval of 8 weeks (56 days) between first and second doses of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series (Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty or Moderna Spikevax). According to NACI, there is emerging evidence that longer intervals between the first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines result in more robust and durable immune response and higher vaccine effectiveness. Public Health will administer second doses 8 weeks (56 days) following administration of a first dose, with limited exceptions.

Third dose eligibility

The Government of Ontario recommends a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as part of a primary vaccine series (meaning 3 doses are needed for full immunity) for the following individuals:

• Moderately to severely immunocompromised (see details at phsd.ca/COVID-19/vaccine-clinics)

Booster dose eligibility

The Government of Ontario recommends a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to restore protection that may have decreased over time to a level for the following individuals:

• Individuals 18 years of age and older who received their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine at least 3 months ago (84 days, 12 weeks).
• First Nations, Inuit, and Métis adults 18 years of age and older including non-Indigenous household members, who received their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine at least 3 months ago (84 days, 12 weeks).
• Eligible health care workers 18 years of age and older who received their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine at least 3 months ago (84 days, 12 weeks) (see details at phsd.ca/COVID-19/vaccine-clinics).
• Individuals who received 2 doses of the AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD COVID-19 vaccine at least 3 months ago (84 days, 12 weeks).
• Individuals who received 1 dose of the Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at least 3 months ago (84 days, 12 weeks).
• Vulnerable older adults in congregate settings who received their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine at least 3 months ago (84 days, 12 weeks) (see details at phsd.ca/COVID-19/vaccine-clinics).
• Moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals who are eligible for a three dose primary series may receive a booster dose (a fourth dose) 3 month (84 days, 12 weeks) after their third dose.

For detailed information on eligibility for first, second, and booster doses, visit phsd.ca/COVID-19/vaccine-clinics.

Second and third dose appointments

Anyone eligible for a second or third dose can book an appointment as soon as they are eligible. To book online, visit covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine or call 705.674.2299 (toll-free: 1.800.708.2505), between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday to Friday. For a list of scheduled clinics, visit phsd.ca/COVID-19/vaccine-clinics.

Preparing for a COVID-19 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.
• If you do not feel you can stand for longer periods of time, consider bringing a chair, as you may have to wait in line.
• 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.
• Dress for the weather, you may have to wait in line indoors and outdoors if you plan on attending a walk-in clinic.
• 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.
• If you have symptoms of COVID-19, do not attend the clinic.

For more information or if you have questions, please talk to trusted sources such as Public Health immunizers at COVID-19 vaccine clinics, 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).