Book your bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine now

Starting Monday, September 26, 2022, all individuals 18 years of age and older are eligible to book an appointment to receive a bivalent booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine. To book your appointment, visit york.ca/COVID19Vaccine or call Access York at 1-877-464-9675 or contact participating pharmacies. York Region’s booking system releases new appointments 10 days in advance, so check back often to book your appointment. 

When should I get the bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine? 

The bivalent COVID-19 vaccine is a booster dose, which means eligible individuals must have already received a complete primary series of COVID-19 vaccines before booking an appointment for a bivalent booster dose. For most, a complete primary series is two doses of the mRNA vaccine, for people with a weakened immune system it is three doses.

To receive the bivalent vaccine dose, you also must: 

• Be 18 years of age or older (12+ for immunocompromised individuals)
• Have received your last dose six months ago (recommended) but with consent, an individual could receive the bivalent vaccines at least three months after they received their last dose
• Individuals with two, three, four or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine, are still eligible to receive the bivalent booster if at least three months have passed since your last dose 

If you recently had COVID-19, you should wait at least three to six months after your COVID-19 infection before you receive a booster dose.

Do I need the bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine? 

The bivalent vaccine aims to target the original COVID-19 virus, as well as the more recent Omicron variants, which now make up nearly all cases across Ontario. This vaccine targets the original SARS-CoV-2 virus from 2019 and the Omicron BA.1 variant. It was also found to generate a good immune response against the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants and is expected to provide longer-lasting protection. 

We encourage everyone to get your bivalent booster dose as soon as you are eligible.

Keeping your COVID-19 vaccine doses up to date provides better protection against serious illness, hospitalization and ICU admission from the virus. Vaccination continues to be our best protection against COVID-19.

During this period of higher vaccine demand, like other health units across Ontario, York Region Public Health will be administering all COVID-19 vaccines by appointment only and are unable to accommodate walk-ins at this time. 

As more vaccine and resources become available, York Region will update york.ca/COVID19Vaccine and our social media channels when walk-in appointments have resumed.

Learn more at york.ca/COVID19Vaccineinfo