It is great news that Ontario has begun its Covid-19 vaccination roll out. When we know about the availability of these vaccines in Northumberland, we will update by email and on our website. 
About COVID-19 vaccines
Safe and reliable vaccines can help protect you and your family from COVID-19. They will be an important tool to help stop the spread of the virus and allow individuals, families and workers to safely resume normal life.
COVID-19 vaccination will:
- work with your immune system to help keep you from getting COVID-19
- be a safe way to help build protection
- lower how much of the virus can spread in the population, which will help build herd immunity and stop the pandemic
- be a personal health choice
Read the latest announcements from the Province of Ontario about COVID-19 vaccines.
COVID-19 Vaccines
On December 9, 2020, Health Canada approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and on Dec. 23 they approved the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for use in prevention of the COVID-19 virus. For more information visit:
- What you should know about the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
- What you should know about the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
- What you should know about the safety of the approval process – standards of efficacy, and quality have not been compromised to expedite the approval of COVID-19 vaccines
- Health Canada oversight of COVID-19 vaccines will NOT stop at approval. Health Canada will monitor the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness now and into the future.
At this time, the only approved vaccines approved for use in Canada use mRNA technology to train your immune system to detect and defend against COVID-19. Although these are the first mRNA vaccines to be approved, research into the value of mRNA for vaccinations has been progressing for over 10 years and this science has been successfully used in cancer treatments. Learn more about how an mRNA vaccine works.
For more information about vaccine safety and reporting in Ontario visit Public Health Ontario: Vaccine Safety or review how vaccine safety is monitored.
For more information on vaccine manufacturing, safety, and quality control visit the World Health Organization webpage.
Ontario’s Covid-19 Vaccine Rollout Program
There will be a limited supply of vaccines at first, so people who are more vulnerable or at higher risk of infection and serious illness will be prioritized in the rollout of the early phases of Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine program. As new vaccines are approved for use in Canada, they will be more widely available in Ontario. To learn more about when vaccines will be available and who will be able to get a vaccine please go to covid-19.ontario.ca.
Until a vaccine is widely available, we all have to continue to follow the public health rules for your region and take everyday actions to help stop the spread of the virus.
For local information about the Covid-19 Vaccine availability
Please check back to this page.
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit www.hkpr.on.ca/covid-19/
HKPR has several web pages about Covid-19 including a Q&A section, information on testing, local case counts and public restrictions. Specific information about Covid-19 vaccines can be found at www.hkpr.on.ca/2020/12/17/covid-19-vaccines/ as more information becomes available, HKPR will update their site.
The Ontario Health Team Northumberland has also been circulating news releases about Covid-19 testing sites and will be posting information when it is available on the local Covid-19 vaccination program. www.ohtnorthumberland.ca
Common Questions About A Covid-19 Vaccine
A good summary article with lots of information is here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/covid-19-vaccine-pfizer-faq-1.5795486
- Is a COVID-19 vaccine available to the public in Northumberland County? The current approved COVID-19 vaccine is not available to the general public at this time. For information about the COVID-19 Vaccine rollout timeline please see covid-19.ontario.ca.
- Can I book an appointment in advance to receive a COVID-19 Vaccine? NFHT does not have information at this time about when our staff and associated clinics Cobourg Clinic, Cobourg Health Centre or Coburg Medical Centre will be able to administer a COVID-19 Vaccine. We are not booking appointments at this time. We will update this web page when more information is available.
- Can I talk to a local health professional about getting a COVID-19 vaccine? If you have specific questions related to the COVID-19 vaccine and would like to speak to a local health care provider, you are welcome to book a telephone appointment with the NFHT Pharmacist by calling 289-252-2139 or emailing info@nfht.ca.
- I have allergies, can I get a COVID-19 vaccine? If you have an allergy that causes an anaphylactic reaction or if you have ever been told by health providers to carry an Epi-pen, it is recommended that you speak to your healthcare provider about the COVID-19 vaccine.
- What is in the Covid-19 vaccines?
- Is the current COVID-19 vaccine safe for children? Currently, the Pfizer vaccine is only approved by Health Canada for those over 16 years of age. The Moderna vaccine is only approved for those over the age of 18 years of age. Trials are on-going, we will update this site when more information becomes available.
- I have already had COVID-19 do I now have immunity or do I still need a vaccine? It is uncertain how long immunity will last after infection with COVID-19. Those who have recovered from COVID-19 should still get the vaccine. Acutely ill individuals, as a precautionary measure, should not be vaccinated.
- Can you explain a bit more about mRNA vaccines? mRNA (messenger RNA) teaches our cells how to make a protein that will trigger an immune response – it is not a live vaccine and cannot cause infection in the host. mRNA vaccines also cannot alter a person’s DNA. More information is available here and also in this PHO fact sheet.
- Outside of the difference of vaccine handling, given both are mRNA vaccines, what difference is there between Moderna and the Pfizer vaccine? See this Public Health Ontario resource on mRNA vaccine with a table comparing vaccine candidates Moderna and Pfizer.