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COVID-19 Vaccines

What you need to know about getting a COVID-19 vaccination

Health Canada advises that over time, protection from COVID-19 vaccines can decrease. Booster doses trigger your immune system to make more antibodies, which can increase the immune response and help improve protection against COVID-19. Staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, will help protect you from severe COVID-19 disease. This is especially important with the Omicron variant widespread in Canada and the possibility of new variants.

Health Canada has now authorized the first bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine for adults 18 years and older. It targets 2 strains of the COVID-19 virus (original strain and Omicron strain).

Both the original COVID-19 booster vaccine and bivalent booster vaccine are very effective, and it is recommended not to delay getting one, especially if you are at an increased risk.

Read more information from Health Canada on COVID-19 vaccines, booster doses and the bivalent vaccine.

Select Pharmasave pharmacies are administering first, second and booster COVID-19 vaccines to eligible residents. Click on your province below for details.

For information on owning or selling a pharmacy please contact us. We can discuss how Pharmasave can help you optimize your business.

For information on owning or selling a pharmacy please contact us. We can discuss how Pharmasave can help you optimize your business.

For information on owning or selling a pharmacy please contact us. We can discuss how Pharmasave can help you optimize your business.

  • New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia,
    Prince Edward Island


    New Franchise Inquiries Contact:
    Doug Sherman, Chief Executive Officer
    Pharmasave Drugs (East) Ltd.
    Direct: (905) 477-7820 | Toll Free: 1-800-515-6820Michael Thompson, Director, Business and Retail Development
    Email: mthompson@east.pharmasave.ca

For information on owning or selling a pharmacy please contact us. We can discuss how Pharmasave can help you optimize your business.

  • New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia,
    Prince Edward Island


    New Franchise Inquiries Contact:
    Doug Sherman, Chief Executive Officer
    Pharmasave Drugs (East) Ltd.
    Direct: (905) 477-7820 | Toll Free: 1-800-515-6820Michael Thompson, Director, Business and Retail Development
    Email: mthompson@east.pharmasave.ca

For information on owning or selling a pharmacy please contact us. We can discuss how Pharmasave can help you optimize your business.

  • New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia,
    Prince Edward Island


    New Franchise Inquiries Contact:
    Doug Sherman, Chief Executive Officer
    Pharmasave Drugs (East) Ltd.
    Direct: (905) 477-7820 | Toll Free: 1-800-515-6820Michael Thompson, Director, Business and Retail Development
    Email: mthompson@east.pharmasave.ca

For information on owning or selling a pharmacy please contact us. We can discuss how Pharmasave can help you optimize your business.

For information on owning or selling a pharmacy please contact us. We can discuss how Pharmasave can help you optimize your business.

  • New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia,
    Prince Edward Island


    New Franchise Inquiries Contact:
    Doug Sherman, Chief Executive Officer
    Pharmasave Drugs (East) Ltd.
    Direct: (905) 477-7820 | Toll Free: 1-800-515-6820Michael Thompson, Director, Business and Retail Development
    Email: mthompson@east.pharmasave.ca

For information on owning or selling a pharmacy please contact us. We can discuss how Pharmasave can help you optimize your business.

Ownership contacts

What is Pharmasave’s role in COVID-19 vaccinations?

As determined by federal and provincial governments, Pharmasave’s certified injection pharmacists will administer the vaccine safely and effectively to people who are eligible based on the provincial government roll-out plans. For information about Pharmasave stores providing the COVID-19 vaccine in your province, click on your province from the list above.

Who is prioritized to receive the COVID-19 vaccine?

The Government of Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) provides advice to the Public Health Agency of Canada on priority of COVID-19 vaccination for population groups.

With this advice, provinces and territories have developed detailed COVID-19 immunization rollout plans for their residents including which population will receive the vaccine first. Learn more about Procuring vaccines for Canada.

For immunization rollout phases including timelines and eligibility, click on your respective province:

British Columbia
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Ontario
New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
Yukon

What are the rollout plans for the COVID-19 Vaccine across Canada?

Rollout plans are being developed and implemented by provincial and territorial governments, taking into consideration Canada’s 7-point COVID-19 Immunization Plan, the Canadian Immunization Guide Chapter on COVID-19, and NACI’s recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines.

Priority populations include seniors, health care workers, long-term care residents and indigenous communities.

How will community pharmacies support COVID-19 vaccination?

There are a number of key roles that community pharmacies and the pharmacy workforce can play in supporting Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout strategy. These strategies include decreasing vaccine hesitancy, increasing awareness, helping triage priority populations and monitoring for adverse effects, as well as administering the vaccine.

Some provinces are including community pharmacies in their rollout plans to administer vaccines. Process and eligibility vary by province. Click on your province from the list above for participating Pharmasave locations.

Which COVID-19 vaccines are presently approved for use in Canada?

To date, the following vaccines have been authorized for use in Canada:

How safe and effective are the COVID-19 vaccines?

Studies for each of the approved COVID-19 vaccines in Canada were conducted in different populations around the world, at different times during the pandemic and not in head-to-head comparative studies. Numerous scientific, peer-reviewed studies have shown that all the approved COVID-19 vaccines in Canada have gone through rigorous testing and clinical trials to ensure they meet the highest safety standard. All the approved vaccines have shown high efficacy in the most important outcomes: reducing severe symptoms of COVID-19, hospitalization, and death.

Are there any side effects associated with receiving the COVID-19 vaccine?

Serious adverse effects from any COVID vaccine are rare. Common adverse events include injection site pain, fatigue, headache, and muscle pain. Health Canada is closely monitoring any reports of adverse events from the population as people receive the vaccine, and there have been no reports of unexpected side effects from patients to date. Anyone who witnesses or experiences an adverse reaction to the vaccine is encouraged to report the reaction to their health care provider. Read more about COVID-19 vaccine safety and common side effects here.

Can COVID-19 vaccines be administered in different dosing intervals?

Generally, vaccine manufacturing companies and national vaccine advisory bodies specify the shortest acceptable timeframe (minimum interval) between vaccine doses but do not specify maximum intervals. For many vaccines, a longer interval to the booster dose results in higher antibody levels.  High antibody levels are associated with longer protection time. The goal is to complete the vaccine schedule and get the total recommended number of doses.  NACI has published guidance on dosing intervals (click here to see table).  However, each province or territory will decide on dosing interval, based on such factors as vaccine supply, distribution challenges, and how vaccine coverage is progressing in their populations.

Should I get a COVID-19 Booster shot?

Health Canada advises that over time, protection from COVID-19 vaccines can decrease. Booster doses trigger your immune system to make more antibodies, which can increase the immune response and help improve protection against COVID-19. Staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, will help protect you from severe COVID-19 disease. This is especially important with the Omicron variant widespread in Canada and the possibility of new variants.

Read more information from Health Canada on COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses.

 

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