As of December 21st, all Ontarians five and older are eligible for the Bivalent Booster and can begin booking appointments through the COVID-19 vaccination portal.
The bivalent booster targets the original COVID-19 virus and provides better protection against current variants.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones stated that with more people indoors over the holidays, vaccination remains the most effective way to protect ourselves and our loved ones.
Appointments can be booked via the COVID-19 vaccination portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre (PVCC) at 1-833-943-3900 (TTY for people who are deaf, hearing-impaired or speech-impaired: 1-866-797-0007). Parents and caregivers can book for their child. Eligible individuals can also book an appointment directly through public health units that use their own booking systems, Indigenous-led vaccination clinics, participating health care providers and participating pharmacies.
To help keep everyone as healthy as possible this respiratory illness season, Ontarians should stay home when they are feeling sick and practise good hand hygiene. It is also strongly recommended that Ontarians wear face masks in indoor public settings, or where it feels right for them.
Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health. “Vaccines are safe, they improve your immune response and reduce the risk of severe illness.”
Parents are reminded to also stick to the Ontario routine immunization schedule. If your child missed vaccinations or if you are unsure about which vaccinations they have received, contact your health care provider or public health unit to get their vaccination schedule back on track.
If you have questions about vaccinating your child, book a confidential conversation with a registered nurse through the SickKids COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service at www.sickkids.ca/vaccineconsult or 1-888-304-6558 (appointments are available in multiple languages).
Written by Joseph Goden
