COVID-19 Vaccine

Anyone who is six months and older is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine

A primary series is the initial number of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine that a person needs to develop a strong initial immune response. Most people need two doses of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer, Moderna) or Novavax (for those over 12 years of age) to complete their primary series.

Children under the age of 5 and individuals who are immunocompromised may need a three to four dose primary series.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends mRNA vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna) for both primary series and booster dose(s).

Those who are not able to or do not wish to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series can receive the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine via their primary care provider or local pharmacy. The Novavax vaccine is a two-dose recombinant protein subunit vaccine authorized for individuals 12 years of age and older. Please note that Public Health vaccine clinics do not administer this product. Contact Public Health via email at COVIDGeneral@regionofwaterloo.ca to receive information on how to request the Novavax vaccine.

Please note: the AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson (Janssen), and Medicago Covifenz vaccines are not available for administration in Ontario.

For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine primary series, please refer to the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance and COVID-19 Vaccines webpage.

Booster doses are doses of a COVID-19 vaccine received after the primary series. Protection after a primary series may decrease over time, especially against new variants. Booster doses help keep you protected from severe outcomes from the virus.

Eligibility for booster doses is based on the interval since your last dose, or following symptom onset or a positive test for a COVID-19 infection. Most individuals are recommended to receive a booster dose at an interval of six months following their last dose or COVID-19 infection. Find out when you should get your next dose by completing the booster dose eligibility checker.

Mixing vaccine types for the booster doses 

If you received an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) for your primary series, you can safely take either Moderna or Pfizer for your booster dose for strong protection. This is consistent with recommendations provided by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization and with practices within several provinces.

If you received AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson (Janssen), or Medicago Covifenz for your primary series, a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) is recommended.

For more information about COVID-19 vaccine booster doses, please refer to the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance and COVID-19 Vaccines webpage. Contact your healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns about mixing COVID-19 vaccines.

If you’ve already had COVID 19, you should still be vaccinated for protection from reinfection or severe outcomes. While infection alone provides some protection, vaccination combined with infection helps further improve the immune response.

Discuss the best timing for you with your primary care provider. It can depend on whether your next dose is part of your primary series or a booster dose and on your health status.

For more information, refer to the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance and COVID-19 Vaccines webpage.

30 Christopher Drive, Cambridge  - Accessibility and translation services available

Hours of operation (by appointment and accepting walk-ins as capacity allows)

• Wednesday, June 7, 1 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.
• Thursday, June 8, 9:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
• Monday, June 12, 9:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 13, 9:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 14, 1 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.
• Thursday, June 15, 9:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
• Friday, June 16, 9:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
• Saturday, June 17, 9:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
• Monday, June 19, 9:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 20, 9:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 21, 1 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.
• Thursday, June 22, 9:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 28, 1 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.
• Thursday, June 29, 9:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Location details:

• Wheelchair accessible
• Wheelchairs are offered by the site
• Interpretation services offered – via telephone
• Service dog friendly
• Able to provide private room for client(s) upon request

Address: 30 Christopher Drive, Cambridge, ON N1R 4R4 

Hours of operation (by appointment and accepting walk-ins as capacity allows)

• Wednesday, June 7, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Thursday, June 8, 12:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, June 9, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Saturday, June 10, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Monday, June 12, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 13, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 14, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Thursday, June 15, 12:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
• Monday, June 19, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. 
• Tuesday, June 20, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 21, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Thursday, June 22, 12:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, June 23, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Saturday, June 24, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Monday, June 26, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 27, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 28, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Thursday, June 29, 12:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, June 30, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Location details:

• Wheelchair accessible
• Wheelchairs are offered by the site
• Interpretation services offered – via telephone and sometimes via video calling
• Service dog friendly
• Sensory safe rooms

Address: 99 Regina Street South, Waterloo, ON N2J 4V3 

Parking: Free parking is available at The Shops at Waterloo Town North or Station lots (2-hour limit). Limited street parking is also available outside of the building (30-minute limit). For parking information, please review the Uptown Waterloo Parking Map.

Anishnabeg Outreach    

Walk-in clinics for those who self-identify as First Nations, Métis and Inuit and their immediate household. Willing to have non-indigenous community members. Visit their website to learn more.

Hours of operation:

• Friday, June 9, 9:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
• Friday, June 23, 9:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Address: 236 Woodhaven Road Kitchener, ON N2C 1V5

Ayr Curling Club

Anyone six months and older is welcome to attend this clinic. Walk-in, no appointments required.

Hours of operation:

• Currently no clinic dates available.

Address: 210 Northumberland St, Ayr, ON N0B 1E0

Ismaili Jamatkhana

Anyone six months and older is welcome to attend this clinic. Walk-in, no appointments required. 

Hours of operation:

• Currently no clinic dates available.

Address: 299 Lawrence Ave, Kitchener, ON N2M 5B6

Kitchener Public Library

Kitchener Public Library - Main Library / Meeting Room C

Anyone six months and older is welcome to attend this clinic. Walk-in, no appointments required.

Hours of operation: 

• Currently no clinic dates available.

Address: 85 Queen Street North, Kitchener, ON

North Dumfries Community Complex 

Anyone six months and older is welcome to attend this clinic. Walk-in, no appointments required. 

Hours of operation:

• Currently no clinic dates available.

Address: 2958 Greenfield Rd, Ayr, ON N0B 1E0

Waterloo Public Libraries

Anyone six months and older is welcome to attend this clinic. Walk-in, no appointments required.

Hours of operation: 

• Friday, June 9, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Friday, June 16, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Friday, June 23, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Address: 35 Albert Street, Waterloo, ON N2L 5E2

Waterloo Public Library - Eastside Branch

Anyone six months and older is welcome to attend this clinic. Walk-in, no appointments required.

Hours of operation:

• Currently no clinic dates available.

Address: 2001 University Avenue East, Waterloo, ON N2K 4K4

Anyone six months and older is welcome to attend this clinic. Walk-in, no appointments required.  

Hours of operation:

• Currently no clinic dates available.

Address:  1291 Nafziger Rd, Baden, ON N3A 0C4

Anyone six months and older is welcome to attend this clinic. Walk-in, no appointments required. 

Hours of operation:

• Currently no clinic dates available.

Address:  100 Andover Drive Breslau, ON N0B 1M0

Woolwich Memorial Centre (McLeod Arena Floor)

Anyone six months and older is welcome to attend this clinic. Walk-in, no appointments required. 

Hours of operation:

• Currently no clinic dates available.

Address: 24 Snyder Ave S  Elmira, ON N3B 1Z1

Hours of operation:

• Currently no clinic dates available.

Address:  58 St Charles St E, Maryhill, ON N0B 2B0

Region of Waterloo Public Health has expanded criteria for home-based vaccination to include anyone having difficulty accessing the COVID-19 vaccine at a regional vaccination clinic, doctor’s office or pharmacy.

The expanded criteria includes situations like the following:

• Individual is unable to leave their home for appointments due to physical limitations or health-related issues
• Individual has missed mobile vaccination opportunities in their neighbourhood and would find it challenging to access the vaccine elsewhere
• Individual experiences difficulty accessing transportation (includes people who live in remote areas)
• Individual requires privacy or discretion for vaccination

These individuals can be referred to Public Health for the home-based vaccination program. Complete the Retirement Home and Homebound Vaccination Request form.

• Conestoga College
• University of Waterloo
• Wilfrid Laurier University

COVID-19 vaccines are very effective at reducing the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death, but vaccines do not remove all risk of acquiring a COVID-19 infection. Natural immunity from a COVID-19 illness may not last long and there is a risk of new infection with the variants that are circulating in the community.

Individuals aged six months and older can receive a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as, or at any time before or after other routine vaccines, with informed consent. 

Vaccines reduce risks of getting a disease by working with your body’s natural defences to build protection.

View the resources below to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines:

• Approved COVID-19 vaccines (Government of Canada)
• mRNA vaccines (Government of Canada)
• Protein sub-unit vaccines (Government of Canada)
• Plant-based vaccines (Government of Canada)
• Viral vector-based vaccines (Government of Canada)

Individuals are advised to discuss any concerns with their health care provider prior to their COVID-19 vaccination. Doctors, nurses, and vaccinators will be fully informed of vaccine characteristics, effectiveness, and risks.

Precautions for certain conditions are listed below.

For more information about COVID-19 vaccines, please refer to the Government of Canada and Ministry of Health.

Vaccine side effects are being monitored as people receive the vaccine. If you have an unexpected reaction that is not listed on the vaccine after care information sheet, contact your health care provider who will report the side effect directly to Public Health. 

Right after your vaccine

Although allergic reactions are very rare, clinic staff will ask you to remain in the clinic for your waiting period according to individual needs (generally 5-30 minutes). If you received a booster dose today, you will only be asked to wait 5 minutes after receiving your vaccine.

Please let clinic staff know if you feel unwell or experience any of the following symptoms while you wait:

• trouble breathing
• swelling of your face or mouth
• skin rash

After you leave

Side effects can develop in the day or two after receiving the vaccine.

What you might notice:

• pain, redness, or swelling in your arm
• headache
• tiredness
• sore muscles or joints
• sore or swollen glands under your arm
• fever or chills
• nausea and vomiting
• diarrhea

What you can do:

• put a cool, damp cloth on your arm
• take your usual pain reliever
• drink lots of fluids

Call Health Connect Ontario at 811 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007) or your primary care provider if:

• redness, pain or swelling where you got the vaccine gets worse after 24 hours
• side effects are not getting better after a few days

Call 911 if you have:

• hives
• swelling of your face or mouth
• problems breathing
• pale colour and drowsiness
• high fever (more than 40°C/104°F)
• convulsions or seizures
• other serious symptoms

What happens after my vaccine?

After each dose of the COVID-19 vaccine that you receive, you will be able to log into the provincial portal to download and or print an electronic COVID-19 vaccine receipt. The vaccine receipt will be a pdf document with a QR code.

You will need the following to log into the provincial portal:

• Green photo health (OHIP) card
• Your date of birth
• Postal code associated with your health card

Report adverse side effects: If you have experienced a cardiac event or any other serious symptoms after a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, you need to be assessed by your primary care provider prior to your next dose.

Download a printable version of this information sheet: COVID-19 Vaccination – Vaccine After-care Sheet

Immunization is a treatment for the prevention of disease and therefore needs consent. 

There is no minimum age for giving consent under the Health Care Consent Act, 1996 of Ontario. If the individual is capable to provide informed consent, parental consent is not needed. Informed consent means that you understand what the vaccine involves, why it is recommended, and the risks and benefits of getting or not getting it.

If an individual is unable to provide informed consent to receive the vaccine (for example, for medical reasons), they will need consent from someone who can make a decision on their behalf, such as a parent or legal guardian.

If an individual is under 12 years of age, they must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

As a parent or guardian, discuss immunization with your child. Your child needs to know about:

• Your views on health and immunization
• When and why they are getting a vaccine

The vaccine administrator needs to know your child's:

• Previous reactions to vaccines they may have had
• Health concerns, including medications they are taking and allergies to antibiotics or components of the vaccine

The same mRNA COVID-19 vaccine product should be offered for the subsequent dose in a primary series started with a specific mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Children who have received a Moderna dose and turn five years old prior to completing their primary series are recommended to receive Moderna to complete their primary series.

With informed consent from parents or caregivers, children who turn five prior to completing their primary series can receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Visit the Government of Canada to learn more.

If you are planning to receive a COVID-19 booster dose in Waterloo Region, please upload your Out of Province doses to the form linked below. Please bring proof of your Out of Province doses to any clinic you are planning to attend.

Report vaccine received outside of Ontario form

Once you have submitted the form, Public Health will contact you to inform you that your health record has been updated.

Individuals with a green photo health card can log into Ontario’s portal to download or print their receipt.

If you have received all of your COVID-19 vaccines outside of Ontario, and you do not have a green photo health card, please see How to get your COVID-19 vaccine certificate.

The Ontario Ministry of Health requires all Public Health units to upload medical exemptions to the COVID-19 vaccine database, COVAX, for the purposes of obtaining a QR code and receipt. 

If you believe you are eligible for a medical exemption, you must get an assessment by an Ontario physician or registered nurse in the extended class.

Your primary care physician, specialist or registered nurse must fax a Medical Exemption Form or letter that documents the medical exemption on your behalf to 519-883-2248.

The exemption must clearly indicate the reason why the individual cannot be vaccinated against COVID-19 as per the Ministry of Health Exemption Guidance. 

For more information, please refer to the Ministry of Health – Proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Please see the Province of Ontario COVID-19 communications resources available in multiple languages.

Translate this page.

This website has a built in tool that can translate any webpage into one of over 90 languages. To use the translation tool: 

• Go to the top of the page you want to translate.
• Look for "Translate +" located to the left of the "What are you looking for?" search box. 
• Click the "+" sign and select one of over 90 languages from the drop down menu.
• This translates the website into the language you select. 
• Video: "How to use the Google Translate feature"

 Note: This feature does not apply to PDF downloads or other websites we link to.

• Black Scientists’ Task Force
• COVID-19 through the eyes of a Critical Care Nurse - Hinda Hassan, Critical Care Nurse, Intensive Care Unit, Grand River Hospital - Recorded May 2021
• COVID-19 Vaccination during Ramadan - Imam Abdul Manan Zubair, Muslim Society of Waterloo & Wellington Counties Waterloo Masjid - Recorded April 2021
• Low German - COVID-19 Vaccinations in Low German Mennonite communities - Anna Wall, Low German Community Health Worker, Woolwich Community Health Centre – Recorded May 2021
• Myth busting: Focus on the facts, not the myths! - Lina Shubair, Pharmacist & Business Owner (Also recorded in Arabic) - Recorded April 2021
• Somali community leader talks about getting vaccined - Faduma Musse, President Somali Canadian Association of Waterloo Region – Recorded April 2021
• The Historical and Contemporary Issues of Trustworthiness vis a vis Vaccines and Medical Science that give Black People Cause for Concern - Black Scientists' Task Force - Recorded February 2021
• The vaccine protects you and the vulnerable - Dr. Michael Stephenson – Recorded April 2021
• You can get vaccinated without documentation - Kendra Weerheim, Registered Nurse Practitioner – Recorded April 2021