What are COVID-19 vaccines?

COVID-19 vaccines protect against the SARS-CoV-2 virus (also known as COVID-19). The virus causes an infection in the lungs and airways and is a type of respiratory illness. In some cases, the infection can cause problems with other organs or other parts of the body. Go to ahs.ca/covid to learn more about COVID-19.

The following COVID-19 vaccines are approved for use in Canada:

• mRNA vaccines: Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty Original [Non-Bivalent] and Comirnaty Bivalent) and Moderna (SpikeVax Original [Non-Bivalent] and SpikeVax Bivalent​​)
  
• viral vector-based vaccines: AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria)/COVISHIELD and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson)
• protein-based vaccine​: Novavax (Nuvaxovid)
• plant-based vaccine: Medicago (Covifenz)
  

The Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Janssen, and Novavax vaccines are available in Alberta.

Who should get an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine?

Everyone is at risk of COVID-19. You should get an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine if you're age 6 months or older. COVID-19 vaccines are free.

Do I need a vaccine if I've already had COVID-19?

If you've already had COVID-19, it's not yet known how long your protection will last or how much protection you'll have against variants. It's important to get a COVID-19 vaccine even if you've already had the virus.

The vaccine may give you better protection if you wait a while after having COVID-19 and then get a vaccine. How long to wait depends on your health history, the number of doses of COVID-19 vaccine you have had, and your risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.

If you've had COVID-19 in the past, check with your healthcare provider about when to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

What if my child is getting a COVID-19 vaccine?

Consent for a COVID-19 vaccine for children under age 18 years is provided by a parent or guardian. If a parent or guardian can't be at the appointment, they can give consent in writing using the consent form at ahs.ca/VaccineUnder18.

In some cases, children under age 18 years may be able to give their own consent.

How well do COVID-19 vaccines work?

How well the vaccines work against COVID-19 is different for each variant of the virus. COVID-19 vaccines are the best way to lower your risk of getting COVID-19 or getting very sick from it.

The mRNA vaccines give the best protection. The Moderna Bivalent and the Pfizer-BioNTech Bivalent vaccines are the only vaccines that are specifically made to protect against Omicron variants, which are the strains that are currently spreading. The protein-based vaccine gives more protection than the viral vector-based vaccines. However, all the vaccines work very well to lower your risk of getting seriously ill and needing to be in the hospital.​

What vaccine can I get?

The primary series of a vaccine is the initial number of doses you need to get protection. You can get either the original (non-bivalent) Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine for your primary series.

If you are age 6 months to 4 years, it will take 16 to 20 weeks to complete your primary series with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and 8 to 12 weeks with the Moderna vaccine. The Moderna vaccine is recommended for children age 6 months to 4 years who have a weak immune system to give them protection as quickly as possible.

If you are age 5 to 29 years, it’s recommended to get the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. This vaccine has been shown to have a lower risk of myocarditis and pericarditis in people age 12 to 29 years. It may also have a lower risk for children age 5 to 11 years.

If you can’t get or don’t want an mRNA vaccine, you can get the protein-based vaccine if you are age 12 years or older or a viral vector-based vaccine if you are age 18 years or older.

Usually, you get the same vaccine for all your doses. If your first-dose vaccine isn’t available or you can’t have it, you can get a different COVID-19 vaccine for your next dose. Whichever vaccine you get to complete your primary series protects you against COVID-19.

A booster dose will help to keep you protected for longer.

The vaccine you can get for your booster dose depends on your age:

• Age 5 to 17 years: Pfizer-BioNTech Bivalent vaccine
• Age 18 years or older: Pfizer-BioNTech Bivalent or Moderna Bivalent vaccine

If you can’t get or don’t want a bivalent mRNA vaccine for a booster dose, you may be able to get the protein-based vaccine if you are age 12 years or older.

Talk to your healthcare provider about which vaccine is best for you. Go to ahs.ca/seconddose​ for more information.

How many doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine do I need?

The number of doses in your primary series depends on your age, health, and the type of vaccine you get.

If you get the Moderna vaccine, you need at least 2 doses. If you get the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, you need at least 2 doses if you are age 5 years or older and at least 3 doses if you are age 6 months to 4 years.

For some people, these doses may not give enough protection. You may need an extra dose to complete your primary series if you have a health problem that weakens your immune system. For example:

• You've had​ or will have an organ or stem cell transplant.
• You have kidney disease and need dialysis.
• You have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
• You take certain medicines that weaken your immune system.

Studies have shown that an extra dose in the primary series may give better protection to adults with a weak immune system. In babies and children with a weak immune system, an extra dose may also give better protection, but research is still happening to learn more. If you get a 4-dose primary series of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, this is considered “off-label use.” This means the vaccine is not licensed (approved for use) in this situation but is supported by vaccine experts.

If you are age 5 to 11 years, you can get 1 booster dose.

If you got the original (non-bivalent) mRNA vaccine as a booster dose, you can get a bivalent mRNA booster dose if you have certain health problems, such as:

• a weak immune system due to an illness or medicine
• kidney disease and need dialysis
• heart, lung, or liver problems
• diabetes
• a lot of extra weight
• had or will have an organ or stem cell transplant​

If you are age 12 years or older, you can get 1 bivalent mRNA booster dose on or after September 21, 2022.

If you are at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19, you can get a second bivalent mRNA booster dose. You may be at high risk if:

• You are age 65 years or older.
• You are age 18 years or older and live in a long-term care home or supportive living facility (such as a nursing home or seniors’ lodge).
• You are age 18 years or older and have certain health problems such as a weak immune system due to an illness or medicine, you have had or will have an organ or stem cell transplant, or you have kidney disease and need dialysis.

When should I get my booster dose?

You need to wait 6 months after getting your last dose of COVID-19 vaccine or being infected with COVID-19 before getting a booster dose. Waiting 6 months helps the booster dose give you better protection.

You can get your booster dose 3 months after getting your last dose of COVID-19 vaccine or being infected with COVID-19 if:

• You live in a long-term care home or supportive living facility.
• You have had a stem cell transplant or are getting CAR T-cell therapy (a type of treatment for certain cancers).

If you get a second bivalent booster dose or a Moderna Bivalent booster dose sooner than 4 months after your last dose or you are age 5 to 11 years and get a Pfizer-BioNTech Bivalent booster dose sooner than 6 months after your last dose, this is considered “off-label use.” Vaccines experts support using these vaccines in this way.

Talk to your healthcare provider about when you should get your booster dose.

Go to alberta.ca/covid19-vaccine​ to book an appointment for your booster dose​.

Can I get an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?

Yes, you can get an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. Research shows that mRNA vaccines are the safest type of COVID-19 vaccines to get during pregnancy, which includes the bivalent mRNA vaccines.

When you’re 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.

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding and have questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine, talk to your healthcare provider.

Where can I get a COVID-19 vaccine?

Go to ahs.ca/covidvaccine to find out where and when you can get a COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 vaccines are free.

Are there side effects from mRNA COVID-19 vaccines?

There can be side effects from mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, but they tend to be mild and go away in a few days. Side effects may include:

• redness, swelling, a hard spot, or feeling sore where you had the needle
• feeling tired or have a headache
  
• a fever or chills
• body aches or sore joints
• pain in your arms or legs
• feeling sick to your stomach (nausea), vomiting (throwing up), or loose stool (diarrhea)
• swollen lymph nodes
• swelling or feeling sore in your armpit or groin
• a reduced sense of touch or a feeling of numbness
• feeling dizzy
• rash or hives
  

Children age 5 years and younger may also get upset easily or cry, have an earache, or may not want to eat.

Current information shows that there’s a similar risk of side effects after each dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Research continues to find out more about the risk of side effects after additional doses.

It’s 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’ll get medicine to treat the symptoms.

It’s rare to have a serious side effect. Call Health Link at 811 to report any serious or unusual side effects.

What rare events have been reported after getting an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine?

There have been very rare reports of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the lining around the heart) within 7 days of getting either the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna vaccine. Most reported cases were mild and got better with treatment.

The inflammation can cause shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, or a very fast or abnormal heart rate. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms.

Available information shows that these rare events were reported more commonly:

• after the second dose
• in those age 12 to 29 years
• in males 
  
• in those who got the original (non-bivalent) Moderna vaccine
  

Research has shown that children age 5 to 11 years may also have a lower risk of these events after their primary series with Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine than people age 12 to 29 years.

In clinical trials for both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, there were no reports of myocarditis or pericarditis in children age 6 months to 5 years or in adults who got the bivalent vaccine.

Research is still happening to learn more about the risk of these events after getting a bivalent vaccine and the risks in babies and children.

It's not known if having a history of myocarditis or pericarditis puts you at higher risk of these rare events after a COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your doctor before you get a dose of COVID-19 vaccine if:

• You had myocarditis or pericarditis within 6 weeks of getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
• You have a history of myocarditis or pericarditis and you have questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Research is happening to learn more about the risks of these rare events.

Your risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 is much higher than your risk of having a rare event after these vaccines.

Go to COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

How can I manage side effects?

To help with soreness and swelling, put a cool, wet cloth over the area where you had the needle.

There is medicine to help with a fever or pain. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re not sure what medicine or dose to take. Follow the directions on the package.

Some people with health problems, such as a weak immune system, must call their doctor if they get a fever. If you’ve been told to do this, call your doctor even if you think the fever is from the vaccine.

What vaccine is recommended for people with a weak immune system?

Research has shown mRNA vaccines provide the best protection for people with a weak immune system. ​Talk to your healthcare provider about which vaccine is best for you.

What if I had or am getting another​ type of vaccine?

You can get most vaccines at the same time as, any time before, or any time after an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, including routine vaccines and the influenza ​​vaccine​. However, certain vaccines have a waiting period. If you had another vaccine in the last 4 weeks, check with your healthcare provider about when you can get the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

Who should not get an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine?

You may not be able to get an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine if you:

• have an allergy to any part of the vaccine
• had a severe (serious)​ or unusual side effect after this vaccine or one like it
• are under age 6 months​
  

Always tell your healthcare provider if you have allergies or if you've had a side effect from a vaccine in the past.

Check with your healthcare provider about when you can get an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine if you:

• had ​COVID-19 in the past​
  
• are under age 18 years and have a history of multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C)
  

Be sure to talk to your doctor before you get an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, if you:

• have a weak immune system (because of a medicine you take or a health problem)
• have an autoimmune disorder (like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus)
• have had ​a stem cell or organ transplant
• have a history of myocarditis or pericarditis within 6 weeks of getting a dose of COVID-19 vaccine
  

Facts about COVID-19

What is COVID-19?​​

COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus. The virus causes an infection in the lungs and airways and is a type of respiratory illness. Symptoms may include:

• a fever
• a cough
  
• shortness of breath
• a sore throat
• a runny nose
  
• loss of sense of smell or taste

Most people have only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. But if you’re an older adult or have other health problems, you can get very sick and may need care in a hospital. In serious cases, COVID-19 can cause a type of lung infection called pneumonia. Pneumonia makes it hard to breathe without help and can even lead to death.

Go to COVID-19: How to manage symptoms​ for a list of all symptoms that may be related to COVID-19.

How does it spread?

COVID-19 spreads:

• when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or talks
• if you breathe in the virus
• if you touch something that has the virus on it (like hands or a doorknob) then touch your eyes, mouth, or nose

It’s important to know that you and others can spread COVID-19 before symptoms start.

Go to ahs.ca/covid to find out more.

How can I prevent COVID-19 from spreading?

To prevent COVID-19 from spreading:

• get immunized
• wash your hands with warm water and soap or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer often
• don’t touch your face, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
• cover your cough or sneeze into your arm or a tissue, not your hand
• stay home when you’re sick
• avoid close contact with people who are sick

If you think you’ve had contact with COVID-19 or have symptoms, take the COVID-19 Self-Assessment at ahs.ca/covidscreen.

More information

• Call Health Link at 811.
• Go to ImmunizeAlberta.ca.
• Go to immunizations​.
• Go to ahs.ca/covidvaccine.​