COVID-19 mRNA vaccines

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines help protect you against getting very sick from COVID-19 and needing care in the hospital.

The Moderna Spikevax LP.8.1 and Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty LP.8.1 vaccines are approved by Health Canada. They are updated mRNA vaccines that help protect you against the COVID-19 strains that are currently spreading.

Who should get this vaccine

Visit COVID-19 info for Albertans for details about COVID-19 vaccine eligibility.

Albertans at high risk

COVID-19 vaccine is free of charge for Albertans age 6 months and older who:

• are at highest risk of severe illness
• are more likely to be exposed to COVID-19 and spread it to others

You can get the vaccine free of charge if:

• You are an eligible healthcare worker.
• You are a teacher.
• You live in a care facility like a continuing care home or a senior supportive living facility.
• You receive home care services, and you are unable to leave your home.
• You experience houselessness.
• You are age 65 years or older and receive the Alberta Seniors Benefit.
• You are age 6 months or older with a weakened immune system because of disease or medicine.
• You are age 6 months or older with certain health conditions such as heart, kidney or lung conditions, diabetes, obesity, or certain mental health disorders.
• You have cancer and are currently receiving treatment.
• You have a disability such as Down syndrome; a learning, intellectual, or developmental disability; ADHD; cerebral palsy; congenital disability; spinal cord injury.
• You are pregnant.

All other Albertans

All other Albertans age 6 months and older may be able to get COVID-19 vaccine depending on vaccine supply.

If you are not getting the vaccine free of charge at a local public health or community health centre, you will be mailed an invoice for a $100 administrative cost. The invoice will also be available in MyChart within 5 to 10 business days. You can pay this using the COVID-19 vaccines payment process.

Who may not be able to get this vaccine

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

• You have an allergy to any part of the vaccine. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about any allergies you may have.
• You had a severe (serious) or unusual side effect after this vaccine or one like it.

If either of those apply, check with your healthcare provider before you get the vaccine.

The mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is not approved for babies under age 6 months.

Although you can get the vaccine if you have a mild illness such as a cold or fever, it’s 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 an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine if:

• You have a history of multisystem inflammatory syndrome as a child (MIS-C) or an adult (MIS-A).
• You have a weakened immune system (because of medicine you take or a health problem).
• You have had a stem cell or organ transplant.
• You are getting CAR T-cell therapy (a type of cancer treatment).
• You have a history of myocarditis, pericarditis, or both within 6 weeks of getting a dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Already had COVID-19

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) as a child or adult after having COVID-19, check with your healthcare provider about the timing for getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding/
chestfeeding

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.

You can get an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding/chestfeeding. There is more to learn about the Moderna LP.8.1 and Pfizer-BioNTech LP.8.1 vaccines while pregnant or breastfeeding/chestfeeding, but the information from the original mRNA vaccines found no concerns.

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

Vaccines

If you are age 6 months to 11 years, you can get the Moderna vaccine.

Anyone age 12 years and older can get either the Moderna or the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Doses

COVID-19 vaccination recommendations vary based on age and immune status.

6 months to 4 years with a healthy immune system

If you are age 6 months to 4 years, you need 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, 8 weeks apart. The Moderna LP.8.1 vaccine can start or complete your 2-dose series.

If you have already had 2 or more doses of a non-LP.8.1 COVID-19 vaccine, you can get 1 dose of the Moderna LP.8.1 vaccine at least 3 months after your last dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

5 years and older with a healthy immune system

If you are age 5 years and older, you need 1 dose of the LP.8.1 COVID-19 vaccine. If you have had other COVID-19 vaccines in the past, you need to wait at least 3 months before getting your LP.8.1 COVID-19 vaccine.

Weakened immune system

If you are age 6 months and older with a weakened immune system, you need 3 doses of COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 LP.8.1 vaccine can start or complete your 3-dose series.

If you have already had 3 or more doses of a non-LP.8.1 COVID-19 vaccine, you can get 1 dose of the COVID-19 LP.8.1 vaccine at least 3 months after your last dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Off-label use

“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 LP.8.1 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and have no safety concerns:

• Adults and children age 5 years or older who get a dose of Moderna LP.8.1 vaccine sooner than 6 months after the last dose.
• Adults and children age 5 years or older who get more than 1 dose of a LP.8.1 vaccine.
• Children age 6 months to 4 years who get more than 2 doses of a LP.8.1 vaccine.
• Children age 6 months to 4 years who have already had 2 or more doses of a non-LP.8.1 vaccine and get a dose of a LP.8.1 vaccine sooner than 6 months after the last dose.

Consent for immunization

A parent or guardian must provide verbal or written consent for a child under age 18 years to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

If a parent or guardian cannot be at the appointment, written consent must be provided. They can give consent in writing using the consent form at COVID-19 consent for children under 18.

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

Alternate decision-makers (such as an agent, guardian, specific decision-maker, or co-decision-maker for another person) can use the consent form when they can't attend an immunization appointment with the person they represent. They must also provide documents that show they are the authorized decision-maker.

The person being immunized must have the completed and signed consent form with them at their appointment.

How well it works

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.

COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines

You can get other 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.

Side effects

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 where you had the needle that may look red on lighter skin or purple on darker skin
• swelling, a hard spot, or feeling sore where you had the needle
• feeling tired or having a headache
• a fever or chills
• body aches or sore joints
• feeling sick to your stomach (nausea), vomiting (throwing up), loose stool (diarrhea)

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 a similar risk of side effects after each dose of an mRNA 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.

Rare events

There have been very rare reports of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the lining around the heart) after getting an mRNA vaccine. Most reported cases happened within 1 to 2 weeks after getting the vaccine. Cases were mild and got better with treatment.

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 shows that for most people—including those who had heart inflammation after a COVID-19 vaccine—the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis is lower after additional doses than after the first 2 doses (original primary series).

Research is still happening to learn more about the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis and updated versions of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

Talk to your healthcare provider 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.

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