COVID-19 vaccination opportunities: week of November 22, 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 every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at the Carmichael Arena in Greater Sudbury.
• COVID-19 vaccination is available every Wednesday at the Espanola Mall (located inside the mall).

Vaccination opportunities for the week of November 22

COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11

Starting today, Tuesday, November 23, appointments can be booked for children aged 5 to 11 years old through the provincial online booking system at covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine and by phone at 705.674.2299 (toll-free: 1.800.708.2505). The call centre is open Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. and is closed on statutory holidays. We are planning to be able to offer the COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 in our clinics as early as Friday, November 26, 2021.

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, mRNA vaccine brand that is planned and the quantities at phsd.ca/COVID-19/vaccine-clinics.

It is possible there will not be enough doses to offer vaccine to everyone who attends a walk-in, pop-up, or mobile clinic. We appreciate everyone’s patience and more opportunities will be available.

Tuesday, November 23

Appointment and walk-in clinic

• Carmichael Arena, Greater Sudbury
• Alban Community Centre, Sudbury East

Wednesday, November 24

Appointment and walk-in clinic

• Carmichael Arena, in partnership with Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre, Greater Sudbury
• Espanola Mall (storefront inside the mall), Espanola
• Veterans Memorial Hall, 58 Charles St., Killarney, Sudbury East

Thursday, November 25

Appointment only clinic

• Public Health Sudbury & Districts’ Chapleau office, Chapleau

Appointment and walk-in clinic

• Carmichael Arena, Greater Sudbury
• Manitoulin Tourism Information Centre, Little Current, Manitoulin Island

Friday, November 26

Appointment and walk-in clinic

• Garson Community Centre and Arena, Garson

Saturday, November 27

Appointment and walk-in clinic

• Carmichael Arena, Greater 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 COVID-19 vaccine 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 at the same time. The influenza vaccine is readily available at many locations throughout the community, including local pharmacies and health care providers’ offices. Public Health Sudbury & Districts also offers the influenza vaccine by appointment. Visit phsd.ca or call 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200).

Questions about vaccination

Whether you have questions about getting your 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 mRNA vaccine brands—either Moderna Spikevax or Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty—and these can be safely interchanged for adults 25 and older. The Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty is recommended for individuals aged 18 to 24 years old and required for all youth under 18. 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

• Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty pediatric dose (10 micrograms) is approved for children turning 5 years old by the end of 2021 (born in 2016).
• 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 24 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.
• Anyone who received their first dose of vaccine more than 21 days ago (Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty) or 28 days ago (Moderna Spikevax).
• People who received AstraZeneca Vaxzevria 56 days ago (at least 8 weeks) and who would like to get an mRNA vaccine.

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

Second and third dose appointments

Anyone eligible for a second or third dose should attend a walk-in, pop-up, or mobile clinic or book their second dose 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. Even mildly symptomatic people should self-isolate immediately and seek testing to prevent spreading COVID-19 in our community.

• 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.
• Dress for the weather, you may have to wait in line 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 mask that covers your nose, mouth, and chin.
• 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).