How The Heck Do I Sign Up For My Vaccine?

After a long, tiring, and frankly really confusing wait (because, how in the heck is the U.S. vaccinating faster than us?), Canada has finally gotten its act together when it comes to vaccine rollouts: Most Canadians are expected to receive their first vaccine dose by the end of June, instead of September as originally predicted. Which begs the question: When can I get my vaccine and how do I sign up for my dose?

As with many things pertaining to COVID, it’s complicated. Or at least, how and where you sign up to get the vaccines now approved in Canada differs from province-to-province, and sometimes, even within provinces. Here, Refinery29 has rounded up all the resources you need to make your appointment — and receive your vaccine — as seamlessly as possible. 

(Stay tuned to your province or territory's official announcements to find out when you can start booking your vaccine. Hot tip: There’s no use signing up beforehand, it won’t work!) 

Editor's note: This article will be updated as more information becomes available.

Albertans who are eligible to receive the vaccine can book their appointment one of three ways: either through the Alberta Health Services (AHS) online tool, by calling Health Link at 811, or through participating pharmacies.  

It should be noted that certain eligible groups — like eligible healthcare workers, as well as people living in long-term care facilities with communal spaces — don’t have to book appointments on their own, but will be contacted directly by AHS or their healthcare workers. 

Not sure when it’ll be your turn to get vaccinated? You can sign up online to be notified when each group is released. It’s broken down by age group, profession (i.e. frontline workers), and vulnerability. Check on the provincial immunization booking page for the most up-to-date info on which groups are currently eligible for the vaccine. (FYI, as of May 17, the province is offering bookings for Albertans born in or before 2009).

As of May 17, all residents 18+ are able to register with the provinces "Get Vaccinated" system. Through the system, residents will be contacted when they're able to book their vaccine appointments. The province is currently offering dose one to British Columbians 18+, and anyone 16+ who is pregnant or clinically vulnerable. After they're enrolled, residents can book via their local health authority. There are five of these health authorities across the province and you can find a list of numbers to call on the province’s vaccine website. (Call centres are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday.) Those who live in the Fraser Health Unit can book online as well. 

FYI: When you call your health authority, you’ll be asked to provide your full name, date of birth, postal code, and personal health number.

Like B.C. residents, Manitobans can book via phone, by calling the provincial vaccine call centre at 1-844-626-8222 anytime between 6 a.m and 8 p.m. For those looking to see when they may be eligible for a vaccine, try the province’s handy vaccine queue calculator. More info on an online booking system is set to come. Head's up: Manitoba is currently vaccinating individuals 12+.

New Brunswick is currently vaccinating adults who are 30 or older through pharmacies as well as vaccine clinics. In addition, the province is vaccinating First Nations who are 12 and older and those over 12 who have two or more select chronic conditions. Details on how the greater public will be able to register will be released as priority groups are vaccinated. Watch this space.

Canada’s easternmost province received the first doses of the vaccine in December 2020 and is on a great track. As of May 17, residents 12 and older can register for their vaccine through the province's booking site or via phone at 1-833-951-3884.

The NWT has been vaccinating its high-risk population in more remote communities since the beginning of January. Yellowknife residents — whose vaccinations started at the beginning of March — can book through the province’s online portal. Live outside the capital? Refer to the province’s schedule of vaccine dates  and contact your corresponding local health centre to book an appointment or see if walk-ins are being taken. 

As of this week, Nova Scotians who are 35 or older can begin booking their appointments via the province’s online booking system. Those who may need help booking or live in Nova Scotia but don’t have a health card, can call 1-833-797-7772.

Eligible residents will book their first and second doses, administered 105 days a part, at the same time.

The government of Nunavut doesn’t have a centralized vaccine sign-up system. Residents can find the open dates for vaccine appointments via their community health centre or on the government of Nunavut website. While some communities, like Igloolik, are accepting walk-ins, it’s best to call your community health centre to book an appointment.

FYI, vaccination is well underway for many communities in the territory. In certain communities, like Iqaluit, people aged 18-44 can call to make an appointment for their first dose.

As of Tuesday, May 18, Ontarians 18 and over can book via their public health unit website. How this works differs by unit. For example, in Durham region, the health department is releasing small batches of appointments at a time online. In Sudbury, however which falls under a different public health unit, residents are being asked to pre-register online at Public Health Sudbury & Districts. Meanwhile, in Toronto, eligible residents (aged 18+) can book or pre-register online.

Not sure how to book within your health unit? The province has implemented a province-wide booking system that allows all eligible people in all public health units to find info on how to make an appointment in one place. It's worth noting that, as of yet, you can't actually book your appointment via the site, but rather, it'll direct you to the best means to do so (ie: provide you with the phone number or website link to book with your public health unit).

In addition, select pharmacies in Kingston, Toronto, and Windsor are now booking appointments via phone for the Moderna vaccine. This will be available for Ontarians who are 18 and older and live in hotspots.

Islanders over the age of 30 are currently being vaccinated. Eligible groups can book appointments one of three ways: through the province’s online portal, by registering online to receive a callback and help with booking, or by calling 1-844-975-3303.

Residents of Quebec who are 18 or older are eligible to book a vaccine appointment. You can sign up via the province’s registration website, or, if you’re unable to access or use a computer, you can call 1-877-644-4545 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays and 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekends. (Although Health Minister Christian Dubé is encouraging Canadians to go the virtual route, if possible, to avoid long wait times).

The province is currently vaccinating residents who are 20 years or older, individuals 18-19 years of age living in the Northern Administration District (northern communities), individuals who are medically vulnerable, pregnant individuals, and frontline workers. Appointments can be booked through the province’s website or by calling HealthLine 811. Those in the Northern Administration District, who are medically vulnerable or pregnant can only book via the call centre.

Residents of Whitehorse can book their first and second dose appointments through the province’s appointment website. If you live outside of the capital, there are several communities that are already vaccinating the general public — check the government website for available dates and links online booking.