I don’t have status in Canada or a health card. Can I get a COVID-19 vaccine or proof of vaccine?
Yes. You don't need Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Ontario.
Anyone aged 6 months and older in Ontario can get a COVID-19 vaccine for free. This is true regardless of citizenship or immigration status.
This includes people with:
- no immigration status
- permission to stay in Canada temporarily, such as refugee claimants with Interim Federal Health Program coverage
- temporary status, such as international students who don't have OHIP
Book your vaccine
If you don't have a health card, you can't use the provincial online booking system to book your appointment. Instead, you can call your local public health unit to help you.
To find your local public health unit, enter your postal code. If you are without housing, enter the postal code for your area. There will be a phone number for you to call. You may have to wait on hold.
The public health unit will confirm that you're eligible to get the vaccine. And they will tell you how to book your appointment at a clinic or pharmacy.
Prepare for your vaccine appointment
Be prepared for the pharmacy or clinic staff to ask you questions. And know that different pharmacies and clinics will have different practices.
Some clinics or pharmacies will ask for your OHIP card, but you can tell them that you don't have one. You can still get the vaccine even if you don't have a health card.
You must give your name and date of birth to get the vaccine.
And, if you are age 18 or older, you will be asked to show a piece of photo identification with your name and date of birth to get the vaccine. If you don't have that, you may provide another form of identification, such as:
- a driver's license,
- an Ontario photo card,
- a passport,
- a piece of registered mail, a pay stub, a student card, or a library card, or
- a piece of government issued identification from a place outside Ontario. This includes documents issued by foreign governments and expired government documents.
It's a good idea to call the pharmacy or clinic before you go to make sure that they accept your identification documentation.
If you don't have any identity documentation, you can work with your public health unit, community organizations, schools, or medical provider to verify your identity. For example, you might be able to show a letter from your school or a doctor to verify your identity.
Record of vaccinations
COVID-19 vaccine doses in Ontario
If you received all your COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario, you can get a certificate confirming your vaccines. Call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at: 1-833-943-3900. For TTY call 1-866-797-0007. They can send the certificate to you online or by mail.
COVID-19 vaccine doses outside Ontario
If you received COVID-19 vaccines outside of Ontario, you can get a complete vaccine certificate showing all vaccines you received. To get the certificate, call your local public health unit and give them information about which vaccines you received.
To find your local public health unit, enter your postal code. And then call the number provided.
Pharmacies and clinics should still allow you to get a vaccine even if you don't have a complete vaccine certificate. But it can be helpful to bring a copy of your previous vaccine records to your vaccine appointment. For example, if you had the vaccine before, it could be easier for the clinic to make sure that you're eligible for another one.
Getting help
If you're told you can't get a vaccination or proof that you were vaccinated, contact your local community legal clinic.
You should also get legal help if you have questions or concerns about your immigration status when sharing your personal information to receive your vaccine.
You might also want to find out where you can get medical care if you don’t have status.
