Vaccination opportunities: week of October 31, 2022

Over the last two weeks, Public Health Sudbury & Districts has seen an increase in appointment bookings for COVID-19 vaccines – great work everyone! To meet this increased demand, we are pleased to share that Public Health Sudbury & Districts has partnered with the Ministry of Health and the Canadian Red Cross to offer additional vaccination clinics to complement our regular Public Health-led opportunities.

This week, the provincial Canadian Red Cross team will be hosting a COVID-19 vaccination blitz on Manitoulin Island and in Espanola to help get more doses in arms. The team will be hosting four clinics throughout Manitoulin Island and Espanola from November 2 through to November 5 for individuals five years of age and older. This provincial partnership supports Public Health to respond to community demand for booster doses and increase opportunities for vaccination. Learn more about these and other Public Health clinics below. These clinics are noted below with an asterisk (*).

Public Health Sudbury & Districts continues to offer opportunities in the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts to get your COVID-19 vaccine. Clinic offerings vary from week to week, so if you don’t see a clinic in your area this week, check back the following  week for more. All Public Health clinic opportunities can be found at: phsd.ca/COVID-19/vaccine-clinics. Additional opportunities to receive a COVID-19 vaccine may also be available through select primary care providers and at participating pharmacies. Visit covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations for pharmacy locations that offer the COVID-19 vaccine.

It is recommended that you receive all COVID-19 vaccines for which you are eligible—including boosters—to build long-term protection against COVID-19. Staying up to date means you have completed the initial dose(s) of a COVID-19 vaccine. For most healthy people this means that they receive 2-doses, and a third (booster) dose is offered to boost the immune system. A three-dose primary series is offered to those who are immunocompromised to ensure they have an adequate immune response and are protected. For those five years of age and older, it also means having received a COVID-19 vaccine within the last six months.

See below for this week’s opportunities.

Vaccination opportunities for the week of October 31

At appointment only clinics for those under 5 years of age, eligible parents and caregivers may request their COVID-19 vaccination at the time of their child’s appointment. Please speak with clinic staff for more information.

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 locations, and mRNA vaccine brand or routine immunization that is planned at phsd.ca/COVID-19/vaccine-clinics.

Monday, October 31

Appointment only clinics

• Public Health Sudbury & Districts, main office, Sudbury
  • First and second doses for those 6 months to under 5

Appointment and walk-in clinics

• Southridge Mall, Sudbury
  • First, second, and booster doses for those 5 and older

Tuesday, November 1

Appointment and walk-in clinics

• Centennial Community Centre and Arena, Hanmer
  • First, second, and booster doses for those 5 and older

Wednesday, November 2

Appointment and walk-in clinics

• Garson Community Centre and Arena, Garson
  • First, second, and booster doses for those 5 and older
  • Flu vaccines for 6 months and older, by appointment only
• NEMI Recreation Centre, Little Current*
  • First, second, and booster doses for those 5 and older

Thursday, November 3

Appointment only clinics

• Public Health Sudbury & Districts, Espanola office, Espanola
  • First and second doses for those 6 months to under 5
  • First, second, and booster doses for those 5 to 11

Appointment and walk-in clinics

• Dr. Edgar Leclair Community Centre and Arena, Azilda
  • First, second, and booster doses for those 5 and older
• Espanola Recreation Complex, Espanola*
  • First, second, and booster doses for those 5 and older

Friday, November 4

Appointment only clinics

• Public Health Sudbury & Districts, main office, Sudbury
  • First and second doses for those 6 months to under 5

Appointment and walk-in clinics

• Chelmsford Community Centre and Arena, Chelmsford
  • First, second, and booster doses for those 5 and older
• Freshwater Community Church (old Mindemoya Missionary Church), Mindemoya*
  • First, second, and booster doses for those 5 and older

Saturday, November 5

Appointment and walk-in clinics

• Chelmsford Community Centre and Arena, Chelmsford
  • First, second, and booster doses for those 5 and older
  • Flu vaccines for 6 months and older, by appointment only
• Gore Bay Community Hall, Gore Bay*
  • First, second, and booster doses for those 5 and older

Book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment

To book online, visit covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine or call 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200), between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. For a list of scheduled clinics, visit phsd.ca/COVID-19/vaccine-clinics.

Additional opportunities may also be available through select primary care providers or at participating pharmacies. Visit covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations for pharmacy locations that offer the COVID-19 vaccine.

Clinic services

Sensory-friendly service (COVID-19)

Sensory-friendly services may be available, as needed, and include a private immunization station at one of our mass clinics where lights can be dimmed, noise kept to a minimum, and extra time is allotted for the appointment.

Vaccine-to-vehicle service (COVID-19)

Vaccine-to-vehicle is a service available at select mass immunization 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 the Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccines (Health Canada).

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines

All Public Health clinics offer mRNA vaccine brands – either Moderna Spikevax or Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty), for first, second, and booster doses to eligible individuals. Public health clinics have both the original monovalent mRNA vaccines as well as bivalent mRNA vaccines. The monovalent vaccines are used for the primary series for all individuals 6 months and older, and for booster doses for those aged 5 to 11. The bivalent mRNA vaccines include two strains of the COVID-19 virus: the original COVID-19 strain and the Omicron variant strain. The bivalent mRNA vaccines are expected to provide improved protection against the circulating Omicron variants compared to the original mRNA vaccines. The bivalent vaccines are used for booster doses to eligible individuals aged 12 years and older. We encourage you to ask our immunizers for more information to help you make an informed decision and feel comfortable about getting your vaccine.

For vaccine clinics for children under 5 years of age, Public Health currently offers the Moderna Spikevax and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. It is important to note that for children under 5 years of age, the Moderna Spikevax vaccine will follow a two-dose series while Pfizer-BioNTech will follow a three-dose series.

Non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccines

Currently, mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty or Moderna Spikevax) are the preferred COVID-19 vaccine options for the primary series and booster doses administered at all Public Health clinics. However, Public Health can order a limited supply of the single-dose Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine and the Novavax (Nuvaxovid), non-mRNA vaccines, which can be used for a primary series or booster dose based on eligibility.

Appointments can be booked for a non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine by calling 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200) and providing a representative with your name and contact information. A representative will call you back to schedule an appointment once enough individuals have requested to receive a non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

Eligibility

COVID-19 vaccines

In Ontario, you are considered up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines when you have completed the initial dose(s) of a COVID-19 vaccine and have received a COVID-19 vaccine within the last 6 months (if eligible). Boosters are particularly important for high-risk individuals, who should receive the booster three months after their last dose. Most Ontarians under the age of 65 should receive their booster dose at the recommended six-month interval. Individuals can choose to get their booster dose after a minimum of 3 months, with informed consent. Visit covid-19-vaccine-eligibility for information on when you should be vaccinated based on the type of vaccine you should receive, your age, your health status, and if you recently had a COVID-19 infection.

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.
• 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 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, 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).