Note: The COVID-19 situation is continuously evolving; health care professionals can subscribe here to receive updates.
Click here to see the most recent Public Health Alerts for health care professionals
PHAC COVID-19 Vaccine: Toolkit for Health Care Providers
COVID-19 Vaccine - Relevant Information and Planning Resources:
Primary care providers can access Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, Pfizer Pediatric COVID-19 vaccine, Moderna COVID-19 or Novavax vaccine through public health to administer in their practice. These vaccines are mRNA vaccines with similar efficacy and safety profiles.
The following steps are required to provide COVID-19 vaccine and public health is here to support you in onboarding with this process:
Clinical supplies (needles, alcohol swabs, cotton, PPE, sharps containers) will be provided with each vaccine order.
If you are interested in accessing COVID-19 vaccine to store, handle and administer in your practice, please email [email protected] indicating your interest and someone will connect with you to review next steps.
Vaccine Administration Procedures for Healthcare Professionals - Note for Healthcare Professionals:
Link to COVID-19 Vaccine Order Form
Link to HCP COVID-19 Vaccine pre-filled syringe for pick up requests
Link to Pfizer Vaccine Reconstitution and Prep
COVID-19 Vaccinations for children 5-11 years of age
NACI statement and summary on the use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (10mcg) in children 5 to 11 years of age.
Statement from the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health (CCMOH): COVID-19 Vaccination in Children 5-11 years of age
Kids Health First Information on COVID-19 vaccination for children and youth for Health and Social Service Providers.
Statement from Canadian Paediatric Society on COVID-19 Vaccines for 5-11 year olds
Letter to Patients (Template for HCP use, shared by the Ontario College of Family Physicians (Dr. Tara Kiran and Dr. Noah Ivers) and adapted for local use – NEW
Clinical Resources on Pain Management
Canadian Medical Association Clinical Practice Guideline: Reducing Pain During Vaccine Injections (2015)
Canadian Paediatric Society Position Statement: Managing pain and distress in children undergoing brief diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (Podcast) (2019)
Help Eliminate Pain in Kids and Adults Resources for Health Care Providers
Managing pain and fear: Playing your CARDs to improve the vaccination experience, CCDR 47(1) - Canada.ca
Patient Resources
SMDHU.org COVID-19 Getting Vaccinated
Help eliminate pain in kids and adults resources
Sick Kids video series on reducing vaccination pain in your child
See How to Talk to Kids about Getting Vaccinated to guide your conversation
Pain Management During Immunizations for Children
Tips to Improve Your Child's Immunization Experience
Clinical Resources
NACI: Considerations for a fall 2022 COVID-19 Booster Program
COVID-19 Vaccine Dosing Quick Reference Guide:
Vaccine Prep Resources:
Non-mRNA Vaccine Request
COVID-19 Fourth Dose Referral Form
COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Recommendations - NEW
COVID-19 Vaccination Recommendations for Special Populations
The 4A Model - Minimal Contact COVID-19 Vaccine Intervention
Patients with a severe allergy to a component of mRNA vaccine (i.e. PEG) A primary care referral to an allergist is required when there is an allergy concern related to an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. The allergist will prescribe and administer the appropriate vaccine. Allergists - please call us at 705-721-7520 ext. 8806 to request a dose of Novavax vaccine for these clients.
Ontario COVID-19 Allergy eConsult Service
COVID-19 Vaccine Consent Form
COVID-19 Fact Sheet
mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Directive Template (Updated January 25, 2023)
Guidance for Obstetrics and Perinatal Care (Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada)
COVID-19 Numbers to Know – BORN Ontario
Outcomes of COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnancy: A New JAMA Study – BORN Ontario (Infographic, 2022)
COVID-19 – MotherToBaby (January 6, 2022)
Other Web Links
COVID-19 Vaccine Information - Public Health Agency of Canada
COVID-19 Vaccines for Ontario - Ontario Ministry of Health
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 (Comirnaty) Vaccine Product Monograph
Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Product Monograph
Symptoms of COVID-19 and its variants range from mild - like the flu and other common respiratory infections - to severe.
Some of the more commonly reported symptoms include:
Newest Guidelines/Documents
Outbreak Resources
Get Vaccinated - General Public
COVID-19 Vaccine - Health Professionals
COVID-19 Guidance: Long-Term Care Homes, Retirement Homes, and Other Congregate Living Settings for Public Health Units (January 18, 2023)
COVID-19: Infection Prevention and Control Checklist for Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes (January 2023)
Prevention and Management of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes (PHO) (January 2023)
Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID-19 in Ontario (November 30, 2022)
Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility COVID-19 Guidance Document for Retirement Homes in Ontario (October 6, 2022)
Interim IPAC Recommendations for Use of Personal Protective Equipment for Care of Individuals with Suspect or Confirmed COVID-19 (October 2022)
Minister's Directive: COVID-19 Response Measures for Long-Term Care Homes (August 30, 2022)
COVID-19 Preparedness and Prevention in Congregate Living Settings (August 2022)
COVID-19 Screening Tool for Long-Term Care Homes and Retirement Homes (August 31, 2022)
COVID-19 Guidance: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Health Care Workers and Health Care Entities (June 2022)
COVID-19: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Non-Medical Masks in Congregate Living Settings (July 2022)
Universal Mask Use in Health Care Settings and Retirement Homes (February 2022)
Universal Mask Use in Health Care (April 22, 2022)
Droplet and Contact Precautions - Non-Acute Care Facilities (March 2020)
Control of Respiratory Infections in Long-Term Care Homes (2018)
Droplet and Contact precautions are sufficient for providing direct care to patients with suspect or confirmed COVID-19, including nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab collection.
Airborne precautions, including the use of N95 respirators, are only required for Aerosol-generating medical procedures (e.g., endotracheal intubation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, bronchoscopy, surgery).
Accessing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): If unable to access PPE through the usual suppliers, see eHealth Ontario for assistance in requesting from the provincial supply.