The Spring COVID-19 XBB vaccine is available for eligible residents. Vaccines are available at select pharmacies and primary care providers. Find a pharmacy here. COVID-19 vaccines are available by appointment at Toronto Public Health clinics (for Novavax vaccine and children 6 months to 4 years of age).
Staying up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines this spring is important to protect the most vulnerable people in our community from serious illness, including hospitalization and death.
Following the Ontario Ministry of Health guidance, and guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) people who are at increased risk of serious illness from COVID-19 may get an additional dose of an XBB COVID-19 vaccine in Spring 2024. People at increased risk of serious illness include:
The Spring COVID-19 XBB vaccine dose is given six months from the previous COVID-19 vaccine dose or known COVID infection (minimal interval of three months).
The general population is not recommended to receive a COVID-19 XBB vaccine in Spring 2024 if they have received COVID-19 vaccination before or had a recent infection (in the last six months), unless recommended by their health care provider.
Individuals who have never received a COVID-19 vaccine can get the COVID-19 XBB vaccine at any time.
It’s recommended for young children to finish the vaccine series, with the same vaccine product (Pfizer or Moderna). All children who have not finished their vaccine series or have not started their series can complete or start their series this Spring.
| Previous COVID-19 vaccine doses | Recommended Number of COVID-19 Vaccine Doses and Interval Between Doses | |
|---|---|---|
| Moderna XBB Schedule | Pfizer XBB Schedule | |
| 3 or more doses | Vaccine series complete, no further doses recommended at this time | |
| 2 doses | Vaccine series complete, no further doses recommended at this time | 1 dose
8 weeks from the last dose |
| 1 dose | 1 dose
8 weeks from last dose |
2 doses
8 weeks from last dose |
| 0 doses | 2 doses
8 weeks from last dose |
3 doses
8 weeks apart |
Individuals 6 months of age and older who never got a COVID-19 vaccine can be vaccinated this Spring 2024. See table below for specific recommendations.
Individuals who are 5 years of age and older who are eligible can be vaccinated this Spring.
Anyone 12 years of age and older and were never vaccinated may receive either an mRNA (Pfizer XBB or Moderna XBB) or protein subunit (Novavax XBB) COVID-19 vaccine.
All other individuals are not currently recommended to receive a COVID-19 vaccine dose in Spring 2024 and should wait until the fall 2024, unless provided with recommendations from their health care provider. This includes individuals who are not at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 who did not receive an XBB COVID-19 vaccine in the fall 2023.
| Previous COVID-19 vaccine doses | Recommended Number of COVID-19 Vaccine Doses and Interval Between Doses | |
|---|---|---|
| Moderna Schedule | Pfizer Schedule | |
| 1 dose or more | No doses in Spring 2024 or 1 dose if eligible | |
| 0 doses | 1 dose | |
Novavax XBB can be used instead of an mRNA vaccine to 12+ year olds
Receiving a vaccine in Spring 2024 is important for individuals who are moderately to severely immunocompromised and at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
Moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals who are 6 months to 4 years of age who have not been previously vaccinated should receive an additional dose of vaccine to be fully protected. Follow Appendix B in the Ministry of Health’s guidance for number of doses recommended.
Moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals who are 5 years of age and older and never received a COVID-19 vaccine should receive 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Please refer to Ministry of Health guidance for more information.
Learn more on where people without OHIP cards can get vaccinated.
Everyone six months of age and older who has been vaccinated outside of Canada with one or more vaccine(s) not approved by Health Canada can receive a dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine if it has been at least six months since the last COVID-19 vaccine or infection.
If you live in Toronto and got COVID-19 vaccines outside of Ontario or Canada, it’s recommended to keep your vaccine records updated. Learn more about how to document any dose(s) received outside of Ontario or Canada by visiting COVID-19: Proof of Vaccination.