COVID-19 Vaccines 2024-25 (Canada)
modified October 2024
The first chart below provides dosing and storage information for COVID-19 vaccines approved in Canada. The product monographs can be found at https://covid-vaccine.canada.ca/. A second chart provides information and resources to help you address frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccination.
--Information in this chart is from the Canadian product monographs (see link in footnote a), unless otherwise cited.--
Vaccine |
Dosing |
Storage/Stability |
Comirnaty (COVID-19 vaccine, mRNA) 2024 to 2025 formula (Omicron KP.2) for patients ≥6 months of age.
Pfizer Canada |
For patients ≥12 years of age (vials have gray cap and label border).
For patients 5 to 11 years of age (vials have blue cap and label border).
For patients 6 months through 4 years of age (vials have yellow cap and label border). REQUIRES DILUTION with 1.1 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride injection, USP.
Immunocompromised patients: see footnote b. |
|
Spikevax COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. 2024 to 2025 formula (Omicron KP.2) for patients ≥6 months years of age. Moderna Royal blue cap with strength printed in coral blue. |
For patients ≥12 years of age.
For patients 5 to 11 years of age.
For patients 6 months through 4 years of age.
Immunocompromised patients: see footnote b. |
|
Nuvaxovid COVID-19 recombinant protein vaccine, adjuvanted. Novavax |
For patients ≥12 years of age.
Immunocompromised patients: see footnote b. |
|
Abbreviations: IM = intramuscular; NACI = National Advisory Committee on Immunization
- Canadian product monographs used in creation of this resource: Comirnaty (September 24, 2024), Spikevax (September 17, 2024); Nuvaxovid (September 19, 2024)/ Canadian product monographs can be found in the COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments Portal: https://covid-vaccine.canada.ca/.
- Immunocompromise:
- For unvaccinated individuals 5 years of age and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, NACI recommends that two doses should be given, and an additional dose (for a total of 3 doses, four to eight weeks apart) may be given.18,19
- For unvaccinated individuals 6 months up to 5 years of age who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, NACI recommends one additional dose, with a four to eight-week interval between doses.18
- Examples of moderately to severely immunocompromised conditions can be found in the COVID-19 Vaccines chapter of the Canadian Immunization Guide: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/canadian-immunization-guide-part-4-active-vaccines/page-26-covid-19-vaccine.html#a6.4.considerations.
---Continue to the next section for Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 Vaccination---
Frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccination
Question |
Pertinent information or Suggested Resources |
How do COVID-19 vaccines work? |
|
Do mRNA vaccines affect DNA? |
|
Can a COVID-19 vaccine cause a COVID-19 infection? |
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Can a patient get a COVID-19 vaccine if they have a COVID infection? |
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How effective are COVID-19 vaccines? |
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Can COVID-19 vaccines be given with other vaccines? |
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What are some common adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines, and what can be done about them? |
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Do COVID-19 vaccines cause heart problems? |
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Do COVID-19 vaccines cause Bell’s palsy? |
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Can COVID-19 vaccines cause ischemic stroke? |
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Do COVID-19 vaccines cause Guillain-Barre syndrome? |
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Will COVID-19 vaccination cause a positive COVID test? |
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Can antibody testing be used to assess the need for COVID-19 vaccination? |
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Do patients need to stick with the same vaccine every year? |
|
Do COVD-19 vaccines prevent “long COVID”? |
|
Can patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding get a COVID vaccine? |
|
References
- CDC. Long COVID basics. July 11, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/long-term-effects/index.html. (Accessed September 17, 2024).
- Trinh NT, Jödicke AM, Català M, et al. Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines to prevent long COVID: data from Norway. Lancet Respir Med. 2024 May;12(5):e33-e34.
- Al-Aly Z, Davis H, McCorkell L, et al. Long COVID science, research and policy. Nat Med. 2024 Aug;30(8):2148-2164.
- CDC. COVID-19 vaccine frequently asked questions. August 30, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/faq.html. (Accessed September 17, 2024).
- CDC. Myths and Facts About COVID-19 Vaccines. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/myths-facts.html. (Accessed September 17, 2024).
- Fairweather D, Beetler DJ, Di Florio DN, et al. COVID-19, Myocarditis and Pericarditis. Circ Res. 2023 May 12;132(10):1302-1319.
- Buoninfante A, Andeweg A, Genov G, Cavaleri M. Myocarditis associated with COVID-19 vaccination. NPJ Vaccines. 2024 Jun 28;9(1):122.
- CDC. Interim clinical considerations for use of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. Last updated September 6, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/interim-considerations-us.html#Interchangeability. (Accessed September 17, 2024).
- Wallace M, Moulia D, Blain AE, et al. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' Recommendation for Use of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine in Adults Aged ≥18 Years and Considerations for Extended Intervals for Administration of Primary Series Doses of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines - United States, February 2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022 Mar 18;71(11):416-421.
- CDC. Getting your COVID-19 vaccine. September 10, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/getting-your-covid-19-vaccine.html. (Accessed September 17, 2024).
- Jaffry M, Mostafa F, Mandava K, et al. No significant increase in Guillain-Barré syndrome after COVID-19 vaccination in adults: A vaccine adverse event reporting system study. Vaccine. 2022 Sep 22;40(40):5791-5797.
- Governent of Canada. Vaccination and pregnancy: COVID-19. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/immunization-vaccines/vaccination-pregnancy-covid-19.html. (Accessed September 18, 2024)/
- Willison AG, Pawlitzki M, Lunn MP, et al. SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination and Neuroimmunological Disease: A Review. JAMA Neurol. 2024 Feb 1;81(2):179-186.
- Boehmer TK, Kompaniyets L, Lavery AM, et al. Association Between COVID-19 and Myocarditis Using Hospital-Based Administrative Data - United States, March 2020-January 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021 Sep 3;70(35):1228-1232.
- CDC. Benefits of getting vaccinated. September 3, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/benefits.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/vaccine-benefits.html. (Accessed September 18, 2024).
- Canadian Immunization Guide. COVID-19 vaccine. Updated September 27, 2024. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/canadian-immunization-guide-part-4-active-vaccines/page-26-covid-19-vaccine.html. (Accessed October 11, 2024).
- Government of Canada. Ask the experts COVID-19 vaccine questions: how the approved vaccines work. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/video/ask-experts-covid-19-vaccines/how-approved-vaccines-work.html#a4. (Accessed September 17, 2024).
- National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). An Advisory Committee Statement (ACS). Guidance on the use of COVID-19 vaccines during the fall of 2024. May 3, 2024. https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/publications/vaccines-immunization/national-advisory-committee-immunization-guidance-covid-19-vaccines-fall-2024/naci-statement-2024-05-03.pdf. (Accessed September 17, 2024).
- National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). An Advisory Committee Statement (ACS). Updated guidance on the use of protein subunit COVID-19 vaccine (Novavax Nuvaxovid). https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/publications/vaccines-immunization-national-advisory-committee-immunization-updated-guidance-use-protein-subunit-covid-19-vaccine-novavax-nuvaxovid/naci-statement-2024-03-08.pdf. (Accessed September 20, 2024).
Cite this document as follows: Clinical Resource, COVID-19 Vaccines 2024-25 (Canada). Pharmacist’s Letter/Pharmacy Technician’s Letter/Prescriber Insights. September 2024. [400962]