This page covers how to get vaccinated, safety, common side effects, and special considerations for vulnerable groups and those with certain health conditions.
Getting a vaccine
Health Canada has a thorough approval process that ensures the safety of the many vaccines and medicines we take routinely. This rigorous process is followed for all vaccines approved for use in Canada. Once a vaccine is approved and begins to be used, vaccine safety is continuously monitored to identify any serious adverse events.
There’s always a small chance of side effects for any medication or vaccine. Serious side effects are assessed in clinical trials. Thousands of people received the vaccine through these trials.
Once vaccines are approved and administered in a larger population, surveillance and evaluation systems continue to identify any side effects, known as adverse events following immunization (AEFI). Billions of people have now received the COVID-19 vaccines.
If AEFIs happen, authorities investigate to identify whether the vaccine is directly responsible for the adverse event. Sometimes medical events occur within a few days of vaccination but are not related to the vaccine. If required, a vaccine can be withdrawn from the market and not used if there is a concern of harm. Health Canada can also issue warnings about specific risks in order to inform individuals.
BC monitors adverse events following immunization through the immunization surveillance system and reports to national and global safety surveillance systems.
Vaccine safety surveillance is conducted for all vaccines including the COVID-19 vaccines under a regulatory framework at provincial and federal levels. All reports of COVID-19 vaccine adverse events following immunization (AEFI) are summarized.
Health care professionals who need to report an adverse event following immunization should refer to this one-page resource on
reporting adverse events following immunization.
Myocarditis or Inflammation of the heart and mRNA vaccines
In rare cases, people have experienced inflammation of the heart following immunization with a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. Two conditions, called myocarditis and pericarditis, have occurred more often in younger adult and adolescent males and after the second dose. These events have been reported in B.C. at a rate of 1.3 per 100,000 doses of mRNA vaccine administered bewtween 2020 and 2025, and are seen more often after the second dose, and in males under 40 years of age. Most cases will have symptoms within a few days of vaccine receipt.
Typically, this condition after mRNA vaccines has been mild, with sometimes a brief hospital stay. People have recovered with or without treatment. Studies are ongoing to assess whether there are any residual effects. For further information, visit here to learn more about Canadian Cardiovascular Society National Active Surveillance Study of Myocarditis and/or Pericarditis following mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination (MYCOVACC).
The exact cause of these events is not known but is thought to be related to the immune response to the spike protein which is also important in immunity against COVID-19 virus. This is considered a safety signal of interest that is being monitored very closely.
These events have been seen internationally, and are being monitored in Canada.
Symptoms of heart inflammation can include:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling of a rapid or abnormal heart rhythm.
If you experience these symptoms, seek medical attention right away. Inform the health care provider that you received a COVID-19 vaccine recently.
The benefits of vaccination continue to outweigh the risks and public health recommends that young people continue to get vaccinated against COVID- 19. There are clear and significant benefits from mRNA vaccines in reducing severe disease, hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19 infections.
Blood clots
Rare cases of serious blood clots have been reported in individuals after they received the COVISHIELD or Janssen vaccines. These vaccines are no longer being used in Canada. Based on the available safety reports, there is no risk of developing serious blood clots following receipt of the currently available COVID-19 vaccines.
Anaphylaxis
Very rare cases of anaphylaxis (i.e. severe allergic reaction) have been reported after receipt of COVID-19 vaccination. Based on reports on COVID-19 vaccine safety in Canada published between January 8, 2021, and January 19, 2024, there were 1 report of anaphylaxis per 100,000 doses administered. Most of the cases occurred within 30 minutes of receipt of vaccination. Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis may include hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat, tongue, or lip, vomiting, and diarrhea.
BC standards require immunizers to be competent in identification and management of anaphylaxis and to ensure required supplies for emergency management of anaphylaxis are on hand before providing immunizations. Current data suggest individuals tend to recover quickly after receiving the emergency management of anaphylaxis without experiencing any long-term effects.
Studies have also found that individuals who have previously experienced a severe allergic reaction following receipt of COVID-19 vaccine were able to safely receive subsequent doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals who have experienced anaphylaxis following receipt of COVID-19 vaccination and wish to receive subsequent dose, may receive subsequent dose(s) of the COVID-19 vaccine if a risk assessment completed by their health care provider deems that the benefits outweigh the potential risks for the individual and if informed consent is provided.
Reporting adverse events
Please report any adverse events to your immunizer, healthcare provider, or doctor following your vaccination. Health care providers are trained to report these events to the correct channels to monitor vaccine safety.
If you have questions about side effects or a possible reaction to the vaccine, contact HealthLink BC by calling 8-1-1.
Vaccine injury support program
It is very rare for a vaccine to result in a permanent injury. Canada’s Vaccine Injury Support Program is a federal program that provides financial support to you if it is determined that you have experienced a serious and permanent injury after receiving a Health Canada-approved vaccine, administered in Canada on or after December 8, 2020. This includes COVID-19 vaccines as well as other vaccines approved by Health Canada. Financial support is also available to dependents of an individual who has died after vaccination. Learn more at vaccineinjurysupport.ca.
Information about adverse events is not shared between the Vaccine Injury Support Program and B.C.’s immunization program. If you submit a claim to the Vaccine Injury Support Program, please make sure you have also reported any adverse events to a healthcare provider in B.C. so that the event can be reported and vaccine safety can be monitored.
If you have an allergy to an ingredient of one type of COVID-19 vaccine, you can still likely receive the vaccine. Speak with your healthcare provider if you have questions.
Allergy or hypersensitivity to COVID-19 vaccine or its components
If you have experienced a non-anaphylactic reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine or its components, you can still safely receive the vaccine.The vaccine should be administered in a controlled setting with the expertise and equipment to manage anaphylaxis.
You will be asked to stay in the clinic for 30 minutes after getting the vaccine to be monitored. By staying in the clinic, a health care provider can respond in the event you experience a reaction. Tell a health care provider if you feel unwell after your vaccine.
If you have additional questions, discuss with your healthcare provider.
Anaphylactic reaction to COVID-19 vaccine or its components
If you have a history of anaphylactic (e.g., severe, life-threatening allergic) reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine or its components, you will need to consult with an allergist or other appropriate physician (e.g., Medical Health Officer) about getting your next dose.In some cases, a risk assessment may determine the benefits of vaccination outweigh the potential risks from COVID-19 illness.
If you get another dose of COVID-19 vaccine, you will be asked to stay in the clinic for 30 minutes after getting the vaccine to be monitored. If another type of COVID-19 vaccine (e.g., protein-based COVID-19 vaccine) with no history of anaphylaxis is available, this can also be provided.
Previous reactions to other vaccines
Previous reactions to non-COVID-19 vaccines do not mean that you should not get a COVID-19 vaccine. Ask your health care provider whether there are any similar ingredients in the vaccine that you had a reaction to and COVID-19 vaccines. If there are none, it is safe to get the COVID-19 vaccines.
Vaccine considerations for children are similar to adults. The vaccine can be given to children who take medications regularly, including youth with conditions that make them clinically extremely vulnerable.
Vaccination should be delayed for 90 days following MIS-C (the rare multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children).
Learn more about getting respiratory immunizations.
People with medical conditions can still get the COVID-19 vaccine. The conditions listed below are not reasons to avoid vaccination. You should get vaccinated even if any of these apply to you.
Medical treatments
If you are currently taking medication or undergoing treatment it is still safe to get the COVID-19 vaccines. If the medication you are taking suppresses your immune system, check with your healthcare provider about the best time to get the COVID-19 vaccine to ensure an optimal immune response.
Other health conditions
Anyone with the following is able to get mRNA COVID-19 vaccines:- History of thrombosis following a previous dose of an adenovirus vector COVID-19 vaccine-like AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD
- History of capillary leak syndrome
- History of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) or heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)
Autoimmune conditions
If you have an autoimmune disease, you should get the COVID-19 vaccine. Speak to your healthcare provider or medical specialist if you have specific questions.
Some people with specific health conditions or taking specific treatments are considered clinically extremely vulnerable. Here you will find information and resources about getting the COVID-19 vaccine if you are part of this group.
Learn about getting your vaccinations
Severe respiratory conditions
Significant developmental disabilities that increase risk
Pregnant with heart disease
Neuromuscular/neurologic or muscular conditions that require respiratory support
People whose immune system is affected by immunosuppression therapies they take
Immune system weakened because of medical treatment or illness
COVID-19 vaccines are not live vaccines, and there are no significant concerns about safety for those with weakened immune systems. It is possible that the vaccine may not work as expected in people who have a weakened immune system.
If you have questions and have a weakened immune system, speak to your healthcare provider about the COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccines are not live vaccines, and there are no significant concerns about safety for those with weakened immune systems. It is possible that the vaccine may not work as expected in people who have a weakened immune system.
If you have questions and have a weakened immune system, speak to your healthcare provider about the COVID-19 vaccine.
A third dose of COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for some people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.
Learn more about who is eligible to receive a third dose and how to get your third dose of vaccine.
