Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine

 

COVID-19 Immunization clinics are located in communities across Prince Edward Island.

Everyone 6 months of age and older is eligible to get vaccinated against COVID-19 (primary series). Individuals should get their second dose in the primary series 8 weeks after receiving their first dose.

Booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are recommended for individuals 5 years of age and older 6  months after their last dose of the vaccine. 

Important Notice: Islanders infected with COVID-19 should wait 3 months after onset of symptoms or a positive test before getting a COVID-19 vaccine (primary series or booster dose) provided they are eligible for vaccination based on the recommended time between doses.

Islanders with an upcoming mammogram appointment: Lymph nodes in the underarms of patients who were recently vaccinated with COVID-19 sometimes may become enlarged. Additional clinical assessment by your health care provider following your mammogram may be required.  We encourage you to attend your breast screening appointment but, if you do not feel comfortable you may reschedule your mammogram for 6 weeks after being vaccinated. Please bring your COVID-19 vaccine information to your next mammogram appointment. Please visit the PEI Breast Screening Program for additional information.

Book your appointment at a Health PEI clinic

COVID-19 Immunization Clinics are offering primary series of the vaccine to individuals 6 months of age and older, and booster doses to individuals 5 years of age and older as per eligibility criteria (recommended ages, populations and time interval between doses). The COVID-19 Immunization Clinics are offering the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty^TM and Moderna Spikevax^TM vaccines.

• Use the online booking tool
• Call toll-free 1-844-975-3303

Book your appointment at a pharmacy

Individuals 12 years of age and older can receive their primary series of the COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses at a number of partner pharmacies in PEI as per eligibility criteria (recommended ages, populations and time interval between doses). Participating pharmacies are offering the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty^TM , Moderna Spikevax^TM  and Novavax Novaxovid^TM vaccines.

The Janssen Jcovden^TM vaccine is available to individuals 18 years of age and older at select partner pharmacies on Prince Edward Island.

• Book at a Partner Pharmacy

Getting a Vaccine

What do I need to book my appointment?

If you have a PEI health card, have your health card number ready when booking your appointment. (You do not need to have a PEI health card to make a COVID-19 vaccine appointment or be vaccinated against COVID-19 in PEI).

How should I prepare for my appointment?

• Do not attend your appointment if you are having symptoms of illness; fever, cough, sore throat
• Review the information in the fact sheet for the vaccine prior to receiving the vaccine
• Wear a short sleeve shirt when going to the clinic
• Wear a mask

What do I do if I need to reschedule my vaccine appointment?

If your vaccine appointment is booked for a COVID-19 Immunization Clinic, you can cancel your current appointment and reschedule it for a later date through our online booking partner Skip The Waiting Room. You can also call the COVID-19 Immunization Program toll-free at 1-844-975-3303.

If you booked your vaccine appointment with a partner pharmacy, you need to contact the pharmacy directly to reschedule your appointment.

How do I cancel my COVID-19 vaccine clinic appointment online?

Tip: Have your PEI health card close by

1. Go to the Skip the Waiting Room homepage – https://skipthewaitingroom.com/
2. Enter the phone number in the top right corner used to book your online appointment.
3. Enter the last four digits of your PEI health card.
4. Select the appointment you would like to cancel.
5. Scroll down the web page to the “Update Your Online Appointment” section and click cancel.
6. Verify the contact number used to book your appointment.
7. Click close and a message will appear confirming that your appointment has been cancelled.

When am I considered to be fully immunized?

In PEI you're considered fully vaccinated 14 days after you have any of the following COVID-19 vaccines:

• 2 doses of AstraZeneca or COVISHIELD
• 2 doses of Moderna Spikevax^TM
• 2 doses of Pfizer Comirnaty^TM
• 2 doses of a combination of COVID-19 vaccines (AstraZeneca, COVISHIELD, Novavax, Moderna and Pfizer)
• 1 dose of Janssen Jcovden^TM
• 2 doses of Novavax Nuvaxoid^TM
• 2 doses of Medicago Covifenz^TM
• 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine authorized by the World Health Organization but not approved by Health Canada (including Covaxin, Sinovac and Sinopharm)    

If you received 1 or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine that's not approved by Health Canada and not authorized by the World Health Organization, you’re not considered fully vaccinated and need to complete one of the series above to be considered fully vaccinated.

When are you up-to-date with your COVID-19 Vaccines?

Individuals are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines when they have received a complete primary series of Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccines and recommended booster doses.

What is informed consent?

Informed consent means that you agree to receive the vaccine and understand the risks of receiving the vaccine and the risks if you do not receive the vaccine. You will be provided information on the vaccine and should ask the nurse or pharmacist any questions you may have before receiving the vaccine.

How many doses are recommended for individuals who are moderately to severely immunocompromised?

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has recommended an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised in order to provide additional protection against the virus.

Those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised will need three doses of vaccine to complete their primary series:

• active treatment for solid tumour or hematologic malignancies
• receipt of solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy
• receipt of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy)
• moderate to severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Stage 3 or advanced untreated HIV infection and those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
• active treatment with the following categories of immunosuppressive therapies: anti-B cell therapies (monoclonal antibodies targeting CD19, CD20 and CD22), high-dose systemic corticosteroids (e.g. 20 mg/day for ≥ 14 days), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, or tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors and other biologic agents that are significantly immunosuppressive.
• Dialysis patients

6 months after the completion of the primary series (3 doses), a booster dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer Comirnaty® or Moderna Spikevax®) is strongly recommended.

I am unable or prefer not to receive an mRNA or viral vector COVID-19 vaccine, is there another COVID-19 vaccine option available to me?
Novavax Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine is available for individuals 12 years of age and older. This is a recombinant protein subunit vaccine and a new option for individuals who have been unable or prefer not to receive an mRNA or viral vector COVID-19 vaccine. The primary series includes 2 doses given 8 weeks apart.

What if I am allergic to any of the components in the COVID-19 vaccine?
It is possible that someone may have an allergic reaction after receiving COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals with a known serious allergy to any of the potential components of the vaccine may be able to receive the vaccine following an assessment from their health care provider.
Potential non-medicinal ingredients in the vaccines known to cause a reaction ranging from mild skin reactions to anaphylaxis include;

Vaccine product	Potential allergens
	Polyethylene glycol (PEG)	Tromethamine (trometamol or Tris)	Polysorbate 80	Others
Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty	Yes	Yes	No	-
Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty Bivalent	Yes	Yes	No	-
Moderna Spikevax	Yes	Yes	No	-
Moderna Spikevax Bivalent	Yes	Yes	No	-
AstraZeneca Vaxzevria	No	No	Yes	-
Janssen Jcovden	No	No	Yes	-
Novavax Nuvaxovid	No	No	Yes	-
Medicago Covifenz	Trace amount	No	Yes	Kanamycin and carbenicillin (trace)

Should I receive COVID-19 vaccine if I am pregnant or breast-feeding?

• It is recommended that a complete vaccine series with an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine should be offered to individuals in the authorized age group who are pregnant or breastfeeding. An mRNA vaccine is preferred due to reassuring published data on the safety of these vaccines in pregnancy.
• It is recommended that an authorized protein subunit COVID-19 vaccine (Novavax Nuvaxovid)  may be offered to individuals in the authorized age group without contraindications to the vaccine who are not able or willing to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Safety and efficacy data in individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding following vaccination with a protein subunit COVID-19 vaccine are not available

I was diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) in the past. Should I get the vaccine?
To date, no increased risk of GBS has been identified following vaccination with the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty original and Moderna Spikevax original). Investigations have identified an increased risk of GBS following vaccination with the viral vector COVID-19 vaccines (AstraZeneca Vaxzevria and Janssen Jcovden).

What is the Vaccine Injury Support Program?

The Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP) is a no-fault program that provides compensation for anyone vaccinated in Canada (except Quebec) who has experienced a serious and permanent injury as a result of receiving any Health Canada authorized vaccine after December 8, 2020.

More information can be found at the following link;
https://vaccineinjurysupport.ca/en