Book your free COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccines are the best way to protect you from getting severely sick from COVID-19 infection. All vaccines are safe, effective and save lives.

COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same time, before or after influenza vaccine and other routine immunizations to individuals 6 months of age or older.

COVID-19 vaccine schedule by health status, age group, and vaccine history.

Get the COVID-19 XBB.1.5 vaccine

The COVID-19 XBB.1.5 vaccines are anticipated to provide a better immune response against currently circulating strains.

  • Who is eligible?

    • The COVID-19 mRNA XBB.1.5 vaccines are available to individuals 6 months of age and older. Currently, there are no authorized COVID-19 vaccines for children younger than 6 months of age.
    • Minors under the age of 18 require verbal or written consent from a parent or guardian to be vaccinated.
    • Immunization is particularly important for those at increased risk of COVID-19 infection or severe disease, for example:
      • Adults 65 years of age or older;
      • Residents of long-term care homes and other congregate living settings;
      • Individuals with underlying medical conditions or compromised immune systems that place them at higher risk of severe COVID-19;
      • Individuals who are pregnant;
      • Individuals in or from First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities;
      • Members of racialized and other equity-denied communities;
      • People who provide essential community services and healthcare workers.
    • Check eligibility by health status, age group, and vaccine history.

  • Doses for immunocompromised individuals

  • When to book an appointment?

    • For most Albertans, an appointment can be booked if it has been at least 3 months since the last COVID-19 vaccine dose.
    • It is recommended that the COVID-19 vaccine be delayed for those who have tested positive for COVID-19 (by PCR or rapid antigen test). For more information, please read “If you have had a COVID-19 infection” below.
    • COVID-19 vaccines can be administered  at the same time, before or after influenza vaccine and other routine immunizations to individuals 6 months of age or older.
    • Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients and CAR T-cell therapy recipients are recommended to consult with their physician regarding COVID-19 vaccine spacing.
    • Check when to book your appointment based on your health status, age group, and vaccine history.

  • How to book an appointment?

    • Albertans five years of age and older and their families are encouraged to book their appointment at a community pharmacy. Appointments for children under five years of age and their families are available through AHS clinics.
    • Most pharmacies are accepting walk-in appointments for individuals 5 years of age and older. 
    • Some community medical clinics also offer COVID-19 vaccines and can be contacted directly.

  • Which COVID-19 vaccine will you get?

    • The mRNA XBB.1.5 vaccines are the only COVID-19 XBB.1.5 vaccines offered in Alberta at this time and are available to individuals 6 months of age and older.
    • Albertans are encouraged to get immunized against COVID-19 with the vaccine available to them at the immunization site, and to not delay immunization based on vaccine brand.
    • COVID-19 vaccines are interchangeable and continually monitored; post-market surveillance of safety and effectiveness is also conducted.

  • If you have had a COVID-19 infection

    • It is recommended that the COVID-19 vaccine be delayed for those who have tested positive for COVID-19 (by PCR or rapid antigen test).
    • Check the detailed recommendations in Table 3.
    • For further information or questions, please call HealthLink (811) or ask your healthcare provider.

About the vaccines

All approved vaccines are safe, effective, and help prevent serious illness and complications from COVID-19 infection.

COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same time, before or after the influenza vaccine and other routine immunizations to individuals 6 months of age or older.

  • Vaccine safety

    Approval process

    Adverse effects

    • Once a vaccine is in use, Alberta Health, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and Health Canada all monitor Canadian and international adverse events following immunization. Health Canada also publishes information and counts of all COVID-19 adverse events following immunization.
    • Overall, serious side effects from immunization are rare. 
    • Very rare cases of inflammation of the heart muscle and lining surrounding the heart (myocarditis and pericarditis) have been reported across all age groups. It has been reported most frequently after a second dose of an mRNA vaccine but can occur after any dose and has also been reported with non-mRNA vaccines. This adverse effect is more common in adolescents and young adults, and occurs within the first 1-2 weeks following immunization, usually resolving rapidly with rest and medications. The cases are typically mild and are treatable. The risk of myocarditis and/or pericarditis from COVID-19 infection is much higher than the risk following immunization with COVID-19 vaccine.
      • As of September 26, 2023, there have been 112 reported cases of myocarditis in Alberta out of more than 10.1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered.

    Severe allergies

    • The vaccines do not contain egg, latex or preservatives.
    • The only time someone should not get a COVID-19 vaccine is if they are severely allergic to specific ingredients in the vaccine. Speak to your doctor if you have questions about allergies.

    Fertility

    • COVID-19 vaccines do not affect fertility now or later.

    Puberty and young immune systems

    • The COVID-19 vaccines work with the natural function of the immune system and there is no evidence that the vaccines interfere with hormone levels.
    • Researchers have been studying mRNA technology for 15 years to treat cancer, muscular dystrophy and other diseases, so there are many years of investigation to draw on.
    • mRNA vaccines teach the body to make a protein that will trigger an immune response and produce antibodies to fight a virus later on.

  • What is the difference between vaccine types?

    All vaccines help our bodies learn how to protect us against future infection from the virus that causes COVID-19 infection, but different vaccines use different mechanisms to get the attention of the immune system.

  • mRNA COVID-19 vaccines

    The mRNA vaccines are proven highly effective in preventing serious illness and death from COVID-19 infection. They are available to individuals aged 6 months and older.

    How it works

    • These vaccines use mRNA technology to teach cells how to make a protein to trigger an immune response and make antibodies to fight the COVID-19 virus. It does not alter your DNA.

  • Non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccines

    • Although the mRNA vaccines are recommended, non-mRNA vaccines may be offered to individuals who have a contraindication to or decline an mRNA-COVID-19 vaccine.
    • At this time, there are no non-mRNA COVID-19 XBB.1.5 vaccines available in Canada; they are expected in the coming months.
    • Individuals aged 12 years and older will have access to the non-mRNA COVID-19 XBB.1.5 vaccines (once approved).

  • Immunity

    • Vaccines help your immune system get ready to protect itself against disease.
    • You may gain some immunity after being exposed to a disease, which may not last long. The risks of severe complications or death are much greater than the risks of a severe reaction after getting a vaccine.

  • After your vaccine

    After your vaccine, you may experience minor side effects like fever or aches that go away on their own after a few days. As with all medicines, there is a small chance that there will be a serious side effect (adverse events) like an allergic reaction, so it is important to stay at the place you get your vaccine for 15 minutes after being immunized. Some very rare reactions after COVID-19 vaccines include:

    • mRNA vaccines: Rare cases of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and/or pericarditis (inflammation of the lining around the heart) have been reported after receiving an mRNA vaccine.
    • Protein subunit vaccine (Novavax): 2 cases of myocarditis following a second dose of Novavax vaccine were reported during a clinical trial, but current information is insufficient to determine a causal relationship with the vaccine.
    • Additional precautions to protect yourself from the spread of respiratory viruses include:
      • Stay home when feeling sick;
      • Avoid close contact with people who are sick, whenever possible;
      • Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer;
      • Cover coughs and sneezes, followed by cleaning of hands;
      • Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands;
      • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and items at home, especially when someone is sick; and
      • Wear a well-fitting mask in crowded indoor spaces to help reduce the risk of becoming sick and to help protect others from being exposed.

Vaccines and children

COVID-19 vaccines are authorized by Health Canada for children 6 months of age and older. Getting all the recommended doses helps protect children from getting severely sick from COVID-19 infection.

Check the recommended doses and schedules by health status, age group, and vaccine history.

Additional information

Vaccine info

Info for Albertans

Info for immunizers​

Need help booking your appointment?

See guides for registering an account, booking appointment and common topics.

Need time off work?

All working Albertans can access 3 hours of paid, job-protected leave to get each dose of the vaccine. Learn more.

Need a ride?

Isolated seniors and those with mobility challenges can get a ride to and from their appointment. Call 211 for help.

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