COVID-19
Information for Patients and Families

Can I pre-register if my attestation form hasn’t been filled out by my physician?

No, we ask that you only pre-register for an appointment if your physician has completed your attestation form. We will be calling to book an appointment and if the form is not yet complete, we will not book the appointment. If an individual comes to their vaccination appointment without their attestation form, we will not be able to administer their COVID-19 vaccine.

I have a health condition. Why do I have to pre-register and not book my appointment directly?

Our pre-registry is to ensure proper prioritization of all individuals with health conditions, beginning with those who are highest-risk and high-risk. Once an individual with a health condition is added to the list, we will contact those who are the highest-risk and high-risk first and we will confirm their condition and that their attestation form has been completed by their physician. If an attestation form is not yet complete, we cannot book an appointment.

If I have a health condition, can my essential caregiver and I use the same form as me?

No, we ask that you and your essential caregiver go to your individual physicians to get the referral form. Each of you must have separate, completed forms to be vaccinated.

What is an essential caregiver?

An essential caregiver is someone providing direct, frequent and sustained in-person personal care and/or assistance with activities of daily living to the individual with the health condition.

I have a health condition but don’t have a family doctor that can refer me for the COVID-19 vaccine. What should I do?

All physicians within the community have access to the referral form. If you do not have a family doctor, we encourage you to go to a walk-in clinic to discuss your health condition and being referred for vaccination.

I am an essential caregiver for an individual with a health condition. How do I know if I’m currently eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine?

THP follows direction from the province and Peel Public Health on eligibility for essential caregivers. Currently, essential caregivers are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if they support individuals considered highest-risk and some individuals considered high-risk. For more information, visit Ministry of Health’s Guidance for Prioritization of Phase 2 Populations for COVID-19 Vaccination.

What eligible groups can book their vaccine appointment or pre-register at THP?

If you are 50+ and live within a designated COVID-19 hotspot in our community, or are 60+ and a resident of Peel or live within THP’s catchment area, including Mississauga or Etobicoke, you can book your vaccine appointment directly on thp.ca

Adults (18) with high priority health conditions and one essential caregiver or Indigenous adults 18+ who are residents of Peel and live in THP’s catchment area, including Mississauga and Etobicoke, can pre-register online. Individuals will be contacted within 1 week to book their appointment.

If you cannot book or pre-register online, we encourage you to call THP’s Switchboard at 905-848-7580, who can direct you to our vaccine call centre.

I have pre-registered to get my COVID-19 vaccine. When will I find out my appointment time?

We are working as quickly as we can to book appointments. Once you have pre-registered yourself or an individual, you should expect to hear from us within 1 week, pending vaccine supply and available appointments.

Can a friend or loved one pre-register on behalf of an individual?

Yes. Once appointments are available, a member of the THP COVID-19 scheduling team will notify the contact provided via email to book the appointment.

What areas do you need to live in to book or pre-register?

You must live in the Region of Peel or THP’s catchment area, including Mississauga and Etobicoke.

When I arrive at the clinic, can I choose which vaccine I get?

No. Vaccine distribution is managed by the Ontario Ministry of Health.

Do I need to pay for parking when I go to get my vaccine at a THP vaccine clinic?

Parking is free at THP’s COVID-19 vaccine clinics.

Can individuals bring someone to help them at the clinic? E.g. primary caregiver.

Yes, individuals can bring one person to their appointment if necessary to ensure their wellbeing at the clinic.

I am a primary caregiver for an individual – can I accompany them for their appointment, can I get the COVID-19 vaccine while I’m there?

Not at this time. As per provincial direction, primary caregivers are not yet eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine unless they meet the eligibility aligned with the Ministry of Health and Public Health guidelines and have booked an appointment in our clinic.

What are your clinic locations?

Trillium Health Partners has two COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics:

Mississauga Hospital
100 Queensway West, Mississauga, ON L5B 1B8
J-Wing, Enter from Queensway West (Emergency Department or Confederation Pkwy intersections)
*Parking is free for COVID-19 vaccine appointments.

University of Toronto, Mississauga (UTM) Recreation & Wellness Centre
3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga Ontario
Enter at Mississauga Road & The Collegeway intersection
*Parking is free for COVID-19 vaccine appointments.

Peel Public Health also has a number of mass vaccination clinics now serving priority groups in the community. They are listed on their website, or you can call 905-791-5202 for more information.

Will you provide transportation to the clinic?

TransHelp helps residents who have transportation barriers with getting them to a vaccination clinic. Call 905-791-7800 at least 48 hours in advance of your appointment and follow TransHelp booking procedure. You don’t need to be a TransHelp client to use this service.

Will people need to schedule an appointment or is this a walk-in clinic?

All THP COVID-19 vaccine clinics are by appointment only as it allows us to effectively manage vaccine supply, staffing needs and the number of people in the clinic at any given time to ensure physical distancing is possible.  We cannot accept walk-ins.

Is the COVID-19 mass vaccination clinic safe?

THP follows rigorous protocols to ensure the safety of staff and the community. This includes mandatory screening upon entry and use of PPE at all times, physical distancing protocols, regular hand washing and sanitizing. When arriving at the clinic, community members are screened for COVID-19 symptoms and must wear their mask at all times.

How do I know that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe?

Health Canada has approved four vaccines after thorough scientific reviews for safety, efficacy and quality based on large, high-quality clinical trials:

• Pfizer-BioNTech – approved on December 9, 2020
• Moderna – approved on December 23, 2020
• AstraZeneca – approved on February 26, 2021
• Johnson & Johnson – approved on March 5, 2021

These vaccines have met all the requirements for approval, including safety. They continue to be monitored for any adverse reactions that may occur after vaccination and appropriate measures will be taken, which is consistent with current practice for all new vaccines and drugs.

If I get vaccinated, can I stop with COVID-19 and public health measures?

Although vaccination provides protection against symptomatic COVID-19 infection, we are not sure at this point if it prevents the individual from spreading the virus to other people.

We must remain vigilant as infection rates are at record highs and wide vaccine rollout may take up to a year. Everyone – vaccinated or not – must continue to mask, physically distance and maintain hand hygiene.

If I had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need the vaccine?

Yes. We don’t know how long natural immunity from COVID-19 lasts, so it is best to get vaccinated, even if you have had COVID-19. Please speak with your primary care provider to get more information specific to your health status.

What are the potential side effects of the vaccine?

Most people who receive vaccines have minimal or no side effects, although, as with any medicine, adverse reactions can occur. The most common side effects are injection site pain, swelling, redness; headache; stomach and digestive complaints (e.g. nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and/or stomach pain); muscle or joint pain; tiredness; headache and chills/fever.
If you are concerned about the vaccine and potential side effects, speak with your primary care provider

What are the COVID-19 vaccine side effects?

Most side effects are mild and should not last longer than a week. They include:

• a sore arm where the needle went in
• feeling tired
• a headache
• fever
• feeling achy

If this does happen, it usually happens within minutes. Staff giving the vaccine are trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat immediately.

Where can I get more information on the vaccines?

Peel residents can contact the Peel Public Health website for more information.
You can visit the Health Canada website the Ontario Government website for more information about vaccines.

How do we know it’s ok to expand the second dose from 35 days to 16 weeks?

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends extending the second dose interval up to 16 weeks in light of evidence supporting a strong immune response following the first dose of Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccines.

The effectiveness of an extended dose interval will be monitored and assessed, including effectiveness

Reducing the risk of hospitalizations and deaths at the population level remains a priority and will have the greatest impact on resolving the pandemic

Are there medical or special exceptions to expanding the interval from 35 to 16 weeks?

Provincial direction exempts only individuals residing within Long Term Care Residences, High Risk Retirement Homes, First Nations Elder Care Homes and remote and isolated First Nations communities (receiving vaccines through Operation Remote Immunity).

For all other groups, provincial direction is the second dose interval is to expand from 35 to 16 weeks. If

Is the new 16 week interval to receive a second dose guaranteed? Will it be pushed out further?

At this time, THP’s plan is to administer second doses at the 16 week timeframe based on vaccine supply and direction from the province.