Alberta Health Services
Health Information
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COVID-19 vaccines help protect you from getting very sick from COVID-19 and needing care in the hospital.
The Nuvaxovid XFG COVID-19 vaccine is a protein-based vaccine that is approved by Health Canada.
It is an updated protein-based vaccine that helps protect you against the COVID-19 strains that are currently spreading.
Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine is available free of charge for:
Visit Respiratory virus season – Get vaccinated for details about COVID-19 eligibility.
All other Albertans age 12 to 64 years who cannot get COVID-19 vaccine free of charge may be able to purchase it at a participating pharmacy.
You may not be able to get Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine if:
If any of these apply, check with your healthcare provider before you get the vaccine.
The Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine is not approved for people under age 12 years.
Although you can get the vaccine if you have a mild illness, such as a cold or fever, it is best to stay home until you feel better. This helps prevent spreading your illness to others.
Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider to find out when to get the Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine if:
If you have already had COVID-19, it is not yet known how long your protection will last or how much protection you will have against variants. It is important to get a COVID-19 vaccine even if you have already had the virus.
If you had COVID-19, you can get the vaccine once you are no longer sick and are feeling better.
If you developed multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C or MIS-A) after having COVID-19, check with your healthcare provider about when to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
While you are pregnant, you have a higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine lowers your risk of getting seriously ill from the virus.
Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine may be an option if you cannot get an mRNA vaccine or you prefer a protein-based vaccine. However, there is more safety information about mRNA COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy than about Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine.
You can get Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine if you are breastfeeding/chestfeeding.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding/chestfeeding and have questions about getting any COVID-19 vaccine, talk to your healthcare provider.
If you are age 12 years or older, Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine may be an option if you cannot get an mRNA vaccine or you prefer a protein-based vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, including how many doses to get, depend on your age and your immune system. Talk to your healthcare provider about what is right for you.
If you are age 12 years or older and have not had any COVID-19 vaccines, you need 1 dose of Nuvaxovid XFG COVID-19 vaccine.
If you have already had 1 or more doses of a non-XFG COVID-19 vaccine, you can get 1 dose of the Nuvaxovid XFG COVID-19 vaccine at least 3 months after your last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.
If you are age 12 years or older with a weakened immune system, you need 3 doses of COVID-19 vaccine. The Nuvaxovid XFG COVID-19 vaccine can start or complete your 3-dose series.
If you have already had 3 or more doses of a non-XFG COVID-19 vaccine, you can get 1 dose of the Nuvaxovid XFG COVID-19 vaccine at least 3 months after your last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.
"Off-label use" means the vaccine is used differently than the way it was originally approved. Vaccine experts support the following off-label uses for Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine and have no safety concerns:
A parent or guardian must provide consent for a child under age 18 years to get a Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine.
In some cases, children under age 18 years may be able to give their own consent.
How well COVID-19 vaccines work is different for each variant (also called strain) of the virus. As new COVID-19 variants are identified, vaccines are updated to offer better protection.
COVID-19 vaccines help to lower your risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 and needing care in the hospital. The best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is to get immunized.
Vaccine safety is a top priority. Canada uses extremely safe vaccines. Learn more about vaccine safety in Canada, including how vaccines are monitored for continued safety, and ingredients in vaccines.
You can get other vaccines at the same time as, any time before, or any time after the Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine, including routine vaccines and the influenza vaccine.
There can be side effects from Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine, but they tend to be mild and go away in a few days. Side effects may include:
At least 1 out of 100 people who got this vaccine reported 1 or more of these side effects. In some cases, it is unknown if the vaccine caused these side effects.
Current information shows that there is similar risk of side effects after each dose of a protein-based COVID-19 vaccine.
It is important to stay at the clinic for 15 minutes after your vaccine. Some people may have a rare but serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. If anaphylaxis happens, you will get medicine to treat the symptoms.
It is rare to have a serious side effect. Call Health Link at 811 to report any serious or unusual side effects.
There can be mild, short-term side effects after getting a vaccine. Find tips to manage these side effects at home.
There have been very rare reports of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the lining around the heart) after getting the Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine.
Myocarditis and pericarditis can cause shortness of breath, chest pain, or a very fast or abnormal heart rate. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms.
Research is still happening to learn more about the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis and the Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine.
Talk to your healthcare provider before you get a dose of COVID-19 vaccine if:
Your risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 is much higher than your risk of having a rare event after these vaccines.
