Recommended doses (1st, 2nd and booster doses)

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You can also drop-in to a COVID-19 vaccine clinic during drop-in hours or call 1-800-265-7293 ext. 7006 to book.

Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines: Recommended Doses (1st, 2nd and booster doses)

Updated: May 3, 2022

Protection after a primary COVID-19 vaccine series decreases over time, especially against the Omicron variant of concern. We recommend staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines. (“Up to date” means a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including any booster dose(s) when eligible.) See the below chart and the Ministry of Health’s Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines: Recommended Doses guidance for more information.

You can use this online tool to calculate days since you last dose to determine if you meet the minimum interval.

COVID-19 immunization series for individuals ≥5 years of age
Age Eligible Doses Recommended and Minimum Intervals
5 to 11 years 2 doses
  • 2nd dose, 8 weeks after 1st dose (minimum 21 days)
12 to 17 years

2 doses

1 booster
  • 2nd dose, 8 weeks after 1st dose (minimum 21 days)
  • Booster dose, 6 months after 2nd dose (minimum 3 months)
18-59 years

2 doses

1 booster
  • 2nd dose, 8 weeks after 1st dose (minimum 21 days Pfizer-BioNTech or 28 days Moderna)
  • Booster dose, 3 months after 2nd dose (minimum 3 months)
60+ years

2 doses

2 boosters
  • 2nd dose, 8 weeks after 1st dose (minimum 21 days Pfizer-BioNTech or 28 days Moderna)
  • Booster dose, 3 months after 2nd dose (minimum 3 months)
  • Second booster dose, 5 months after previous booster dose (minimum 3 months)

Moderately to
Severely Immunocompromised individuals ages 5+
(See page 7 of linked guidance)

3 doses

2 boosters
  • 2nd dose, 8 weeks after 1st dose (minimum 21 days Pfizer-BioNTech or 28 days Moderna)
  • 3rd dose, 2 months after 2nd dose (minimum 28 days)
  • Booster dose, (if 12-17) 6 months or (if 18+) 3 months after 3rd dose (minimum 3 months for 12+)
  • Second booster dose, (if 60+ or other eligible group) 5 months after previous booster dose (minimum 3 months)
First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members ages 18+

2 doses

2 boosters
  • 2nd dose, 8 weeks after 1st dose (minimum 21 days Pfizer-BioNTech or 28 days Moderna)
  • Booster dose, 3 months after 2nd dose (minimum 3 months)
  • Second booster dose, 5 months after previous booster dose (minimum 3 months)

People Who Have Had COVID-19

People who have had COVID-19 infection should receive the recommended number of doses as outlined above. However, they are recommended to wait 4 to 8 weeks after having COVID-19 to get the next dose in their primary series. People who get COVID-19 after a complete primary series are recommended to wait 3 months after having COVID-19 to get their booster dose. Optimal timing can be discussed with a health care provider and depends on age, number of doses received, risk of exposure and health status.

Questions?

If you have questions or need assistance about your individual situation in relation to recommended doses, please call our Client and Community Support Call Centre.