Covid Vaccine

WHAT’S NEW ABOUT COVID VACCINATIONS

To book appointments call or go online to the Provincial booking system at 1-833-943-3900 or go online to book.

  • NEW Bivalent COVID-19 booster available: Anyone 18 yrs+ can receive a booster at the recommended interval of 168 days or a minimum of 84 days since their last dose. Individuals can receive the bivalent booster at the recommended interval of at least six months from their previous dose, regardless of how many boosters they have already received.
  • 5-17 yrs boosters: children are only eligible for one booster shot (3rd dose) 168 days after their second dose.
  • 5-11 yrs booster: As of Sept 1, parents of children aged 5-11yrs can book an appointment for a pediatric COVID-19 booster dose. The recommended interval is six months following their most recent dose. You can call the Provincial booking system at 1-833-943-3900 or go online to book. If you have questions about vaccinating your child, speak with your health care provider or contact the COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service at sickkids.ca/vaccineconsult or 1-888-304-6558 to book a confidential phone appointment with a SickKids’ Registered Nurse.
  • Children 6mths to 4 years are now eligible to recieve the approved covid vaccination. At NFHT, in the lower level of the Northumberland Mall we are now offering the Moderna vaccine for 6mths to 5yrs. You can call 289-252-2139 to book an appointment with us. Or you can contact the provincial booking system. This is a two-shot series vaccination. To find out recommendations for shot interval timing and other FAQs, click here for information from Toronto SickKids Hospital. COVID-19 vaccination for ages under five
  • Ontario is providing fourth doses of COVID-19 vaccine – As of July 14, Ontarians between 18 and 59 years old who had a first booster at least five months ago will be able to book an appointment to get a second booster. It must also be at least three months since a COVID-19 infection.
  • Anyone ages 12-17 years is now eligible for a booster dose (third shot not fourth). To receive a booster, it must be at least 168 days since the second dose.
    • Age 16-17 years of age who are First Nations, Inuit and Metis may get third or fourth shots  (84 days or more since previous dose)
  • Children 5 – 11 years old are still only eligible for first and second shots.

Important Updates About Covid Treatment and Vaccinations

  • Paxlovid is a Covid treatment approved for use in Ontario. To find out more about patient eligibility, please click here. 
  • Booking Appointments: to book an appointment at the Cobourg Community Centre or other mass clinics call 1-833-943-3900.
  • Pop-up clinics are being organized by Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit, check their Facebook or website for dates. For more information please see this link.
  • Mixing Vaccines: Every person having received 2 doses of an approved vaccine (Moderna, Pfizer, AZ in any combination) is considered fully vaccinated and protected in Ontario.
  • Receipts of vaccination: can be obtained by calling 1-833-943-3900 or you can go online using information from your green photo health card (if you have an original red and white card you have to call) at https://covid19.ontariohealth.ca
  • Cancelling appointments booked at a mass vaccination clinic through the provincial booking system, including the CCC. You can either call 1-888-999-6488 or click on this link cancel vaccination appointment. To cancel appointments booked by the HKPR District Health Unit, leave a message at 1- 866-888-4577, extension 5020. Please keep in mind vaccine is thawed for these appointments and can not be frozen again, cancelling stops wastage.
  • if you want to volunteer with a covid vaccination program then please see all the info at https://northumberland.io/
  • Children 5 years to 11 years can now go to local vaccination clinics.

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.

Click here to read the interview with Dr. Smith, the COVID-19 Vaccine Physician Lead for NFHT.

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

Read the latest announcements from the Province of Ontario about COVID-19 vaccines.

Local Vaccination Information for Northumberland County

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit  www.hkpr.on.ca/covid-19/ The HKPR Health Unit 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 and the local Northumberland County rollout plan can be found at www.hkpr.on.ca/2020/12/17/covid-19-vaccines/.  HKPRDHU is routinely updating their website. The Ontario Health Team Northumberland has information on both Covid-19 testing and vaccination programs at www.ohtnorthumberland.ca.  

Common Questions About Covid-19 And Vaccines

In our resource list below we have webpages, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube links as well where you can find good information. A good summary article with lots of information is here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/covid-19-vaccine-pfizer-faq-1.5795486 This extensive webpage has excellent questions and answers from a reliable source. https://www.hamilton.ca/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccines?utm_source=link.cep.health&utm_medium=urlshortener&utm_campaign=covid-vaccine

  • 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 think I have Covid, I’m confused about what to do. When should I get a test, call my doctor, isolate? confused-about-covid   Please see this resource. Q2_When_to_Call_FINAL
  • What do I do when I get COVID?  Guide to Isolating (3) 
  • What are variants of concern? Infosheet_VOCs
  • What are the Health Canada approved vaccines? What is available in Northumberland County? Currently the approved vaccines are Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen (Johnson&Johnson’s) vaccines. To find out which vaccine is being offered locally, please check with the HKPRDHU as they are continually updating what they are receiving. 
  • Health Canada has approved a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children. Here is more information:
  • 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.
  • Were the Covid-19 vaccines too rushed? Standards of efficacy and quality have not been compromised to expedite the approval of COVID-19 vaccines.  What you should know about the safety of the approval process (video)
  • What is in the Covid-19 mRNA vaccines?

  • Are the current COVID-19 mRNA vaccines safe for children? Currently, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are approved by Health Canada for those over 12 years of age. 
  • 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.  
  • MYTH BUSTING The World Health Organization has fantastic videos and easy to understand information for myth busting about COVID-19 and the vaccines. Click here.   And another great article about common myths like those in the image below is here on the University of Waterloo’s news site.

  • 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.
  • Is Covid just like Influenza? No. There are antiviral treaments for Influenza—there are no antivirals that can kill the Covid-19 virus. In the graphic  below, doctors looked at what was happening in Toronto and clearly found patients with COVID-19 had significantly higher mortality rates, greater ICU use, and longer hospital stays than those with influenza.

 

COVID Apps

  • COVID Alert App: COVID Alert helps us break the cycle of infection. The app informs people of possible exposures before any symptoms appear. That way, we can take care of ourselves and protect our communities.
  • COVID-19 App and Symptom tracker: The app will let you receive the latest updates and trusted resources, and self-assess your symptoms.
  • COVIDTrends: is a tool that provides summary data about COVID-19 in your area. When you search by municipality (city, town), or by the first three characters of your postal code, data from your health region will appear.
  • Wellness Together Canada: Mental Health and Substance Use Support Wellness Together Canada provides free online resources, tools, apps and connections to qualified people when needed.

Resources about Covid-19 Vaccines

Websites

Twitter

Instagram

  • @covidvaccinefacts – posts here are done by Canadian doctors and followed by our own staff at NFHT
  • @OnCOVID19 (Instagram) – World Health Organization, they post a lot of videos, information for all ages
  • @healthycdns – posts by Health Canada
  • @pandemicpregnancyguide – this is a Canadian resource recommended by the NFHT doctors and pharmacist

YouTube or videos

Facebook

  • @HKPRDHU   Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit
  • @unambiguousscience  recommended by our NFHT pharmacist for easy to understand sciencew
COVID 19 Updates

For up to date information on where to find Covid vaccination clinics please click here to go to the HKPR website.

 

If you have an in-person appointment with a health care provider at any of the NFHT offices, you do still need to wear a procedure mask inside of our office – we can provide one. These infection control protocols are to protect our patients and staff.

Groups & Webinars

For our easy-to-use Zoom guide for groups click here.

Virtual Support Group: to join this online Zoom group on Thursday afternoons at 1:30pm  please click this link.

 

To view previous webinars please see our YouTube Channel .

What’s Happening in Our Community

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Keep abreast of your health. For more information about scheduling mammograms and where click here.

NFHT Career Opportunity

NFHT Volunteer Board Director to join our Board of Directors as Treasurer  – we are seeking an engaged and dedicated community  member with a strong financial background to join our board. The successful candidate will support the board in carrying out its duties in regard to financial reporting, compliance and controls. To see the full position posting click here.

 

Please see our careers page for new postings.

Are You Ready to Quit Smoking?

If you would like information about our smoking cessation program through STOP that offers free NRT, please call 289-252-2139 or email info@nfht.ca.

 

 

Northumberland Family Health Team copyright © 2022 All Rights Reserved

Designed by eTextImage Services.