COVID-19 Vaccines: Summary of dose guidelines for people living with HIV in Canada

Across Canada, people are currently eligible for a third dose as part of their primary vaccination series if they are both at high risk of an inadequate response to two doses and of severe disease or death if they are infected.

Some public health authorities have recommended a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for a small minority of people living with HIV who have untreated infection or are severely immunocompromised. This does not apply to the majority of people living with HIV in Canada. If you have any questions about your own medical situation, please consult your healthcare provider.

Only a few provinces provide clear criteria for what they consider to be uncontrolled:

• Quebec recommends a third dose for those with CD4 count below 500/mm³, or who are not on treatment.
• Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia recommend one for those below 200/mm³.
• In Nova Scotia, a third dose is available for people who have had an AIDS-defining illness in the past year, people with HIV who are not virally suppressed, or people whose CD4 count is less than 200/mm³ or whose CD4 fraction is less than 15% (percentage of white blood cells that are CD4 cells).
• British Columbia provides a detailed list of criteria for those who are eligible: prior AIDS defining illness since 2021 or prior CD4 count ≤ 200/mm³ since 2021 or prior CD4 fraction ≤ 15% (percentage of white blood cells that are CD4 cells) since 2021 or any detectable plasma viral load since January 2021 or living with HIV and 65 years or older or HIV acquired at or around birth.
• Ontario recommends a three-dose primary series for people living with HIV who have experienced prior AIDS defining illness or prior CD4 count ≤ 200/mm³ or prior CD4 fraction ≤ 15% (percentage of white blood cells that are CD4 cells) or (in children 5–11 years) HIV acquired at birth.

In Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, and the Yukon, people with untreated or advanced HIV, or AIDS, are eligible for a third dose. Advanced HIV or AIDS is generally diagnosed when CD4 count is below 200/mm³ (though it can occur at higher CD4 counts), CD4 fraction (percentage of white blood cells that are CD4 cells) is less than 14%, or an AIDS-defining illness has occurred.

In many places across Canada, age, Indigenous ethnicity, and underlying medical conditions can also play a roll in accessing additional doses sooner. Check the links above to learn more about the details for your region.

Most of the provinces require a minimum amount of time between the second and third dose. But, as with the timing between the first and second dose, a shorter interval between doses does not necessarily produce a better immune response. We do not yet know the optimal length of time between doses; this decision should be made in collaboration with your health care provider.

Alberta residents must wait at least 8 weeks after their second dose. Ontario and Manitoba require a waiting period of 4 weeks but recommend at least 8 weeks after the second dose.

Quebec, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, and the Yukon require a minimum waiting period of 4 weeks between second and third doses.

Northwest Territories requires a minimum waiting period of 3 weeks for Pfizer, 4 weeks for Moderna, and 8 weeks for Novovax.

In all provinces and territories, those who are considered to be clinically vulnerable (see Am I eligible for a third COVID-19 vaccine dose? above), are eligible for a first and a second booster dose after their primary series. For those that are not immunocompromised, everyone 18 years or older is eligible for a booster and many are eligible for a second booster. Although most people are eligible for a second booster, decisions about when to receive a booster should be made with your health care provider. Effectiveness of booster doses wanes approximately 6 months after vaccination, and many public health agencies are recommending waiting until the fall, when the risk of COVID-19 is predicted to be higher. Everyone has a different level of risk and risk tolerance. Talk to your health care provider about what is best for you.

People 18+ are eligible for a booster dose in:

• Alberta: First and second boosters are available for everyone, 5 months after last dose.
• British Columbia: First booster is available 6 months after last dose; pregnant people can get a booster 8 weeks after last dose. Second boosters are available to all but are recommended for: a) everyone 70 years or older, b) residents in long-term care, c) Indigenous people 55 years and older, and are available 6 months after last dose.
• Manitoba: First booster is available for all, 4 months after last dose. Second boosters are available for a) anyone in congregate living centres or care homes regardless of age, b) people aged 50 or older, living anywhere, c) First Nations, Inuit and Metis people aged 30 or older, regardless of where they live, and d) people 18 to 49 years of age who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.
• New Brunswick: First booster is available 5 months after last dose. Second boosters are available for a) anyone 50 years or older b) anyone in long-term care, c) Indigenous people aged 18 and older. Vulnerable individuals age 12–49 are not currently eligible for second booster doses.
• Newfoundland & Labrador: First booster is available 5 months (154 days) after last dose. Second boosters are available 20 weeks (140 days) after first booster for a) anyone 50 years or older, b) anyone residing in congregate living, c) any Indigenous person aged 18 years or older, d) anyone living in a remote Indigenous community who is 18 years or older.
• Northwest Territories: First booster is available 6 months after last dose. Second boosters are available 6 months after first booster for anyone 50 years or older or immunocompromised people aged 5 years or older.
• Nova Scotia: First booster is available 24 weeks (168 day) after last dose, and 120 days for those 70 or older, immunocompromised people, or members of First Nations communities 55 years of age or older. Second boosters are available for all of the above groups 120 days after the first booster, and, for anyone aged 50–69, 168 days after first booster.
• Nunavut: First and second boosters are available for everyone, 4.5 months after last dose.
• Ontario: First booster is available 3 months after last dose. Second boosters are available to everyone 5 months after the last dose but are recommended for a) anyone 60 years or older b) anyone at least 18 years old who is part of an Indigenous household (including Indigenous and non-Indigenous people). Second boosters are available three months after the last dose for long-term care residents, elder care lodge residents, retirement home residents, and older adults in congregate living.
• Prince Edward Island: First booster is available 3 months after last dose, but it is recommended to wait until 6 months. Second boosters are recommended 6 months after first booster for those living in congregate living facilities, those who are aged 65 years or older, any Indigenous person aged 18 or older, and immunocompromised 12 years of age or older.
• Quebec: First and second boosters are available for everyone, 3 months after last dose.
• Saskatchewan: First booster is available 4 months after last dose. Second boosters are available 4 months after the last dose for anyone aged 50 and older. Vulnerable individuals age 12–49 are not currently eligible for second booster doses.
• Yukon: First and second boosters are available 6 months after last dose.

Across Canada, everyone 5+ is eligible for a two-dose series of COVID-19 vaccine. For people 5+ who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, a three-dose series of vaccines is available in all provinces and territories. In Ontario and British Columbia, children who acquired HIV at our around birth are generally considered to be immunocompromised — the other provinces do not provide details about how they categorize this group of people.

Across Canada, except the Northwest Territories, everyone 12+ is eligible for a first booster dose. In the Northwest Territories, a booster is only available for immunocompromised people 5 years of age or older. The interval between the last dose of the primary vaccine series and the booster dose is generally the same for youth and adolescents as it is for adults, but may be slightly longer. In Ontario, it is recommended that people 12+ wait 6 months, but they can get their booster after 3 months with informed consent. In Nunavut, people aged 12–17 can get their booster 6 months after their primary series (4.5 months for 18+).

Generally, people who are 12 years of age or older are not eligible for a second booster dose at this time. In PEI, people 12–18 are eligible for a second booster but it is recommended only for those who are immunocompromised. In British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, Quebec, and the Yukon, second boosters are only available for immunocompromised people — in all other provinces and territories, people 12–18 are not eligible for a second booster, regardless of immune status.

A two-dose vaccine series for children and infants aged 6 months to 5 years is available in the Northwest Territories, Ontario, PEI, Quebec, Yukon, and Saskatchewan. In B.C., children and infants are not yet eligible but can pre-register for appointments. In Manitoba, First Nations, Métis and Inuit children and those who are immunocompromised or who have specific medical conditions are eligible. In Nunavut, people 4 and older are eligible, or 6 months to 4 years for those who are immunocompromised. In Manitoba and Saskatchewan, immunocompromised children as young as 6 months are eligible for a three-dose series.

Immunocompromised individuals that received three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine series can also obtain a first booster dose and a second booster dose (five total doses). The time between the third dose and the booster varies by province and territory. Please find more information via the links by province and territory, above.

Eligible people in:

• Alberta: can call Health Link at 811, book online with AHS or a participating pharmacy, or contact a physician’s office. Individuals aged 65 and older who live on a First Nations reserve will be able to vaccines through local public health clinics on-reserve.
• British Columbia: will be contacted through the Get Vaccinated system. If you believe you meet the criteria to get a third dose and have not been contacted yet, talk to your health care provider. If you are 18 years of age or older and it has been at least six months since your first booster, you can call to book an appointment at 1-833-838-2323.
• Manitoba: can get their doses at COVID-19 clinics (prescription from a licensed physician required) and some medical clinics and community pharmacies.
• New Brunswick: can register online or by phone through a Regional Health Authority or participating pharmacy.
• Newfoundland & Labrador: can book an appointment at a Regional Health Authority clinic (select “Second Dose” when booking online), or contact their physician or pharmacist.
• Northwest Territories: can schedule an appointment through their local health centres or in Yellowknife by booking an appointment online.
• Nova Scotia: can book online or by phone.
• Nunavut: can call a health centre to make an appointment or visit Iqaluit Public Health on weekdays for Moderna (ages 18+) and Wednesday for Pfizer (ages 12 to 17).
• Ontario: will be contacted by their health care provider when they are eligible to receive the vaccine. Care provider may be able to submit referral form for eligible patients.
• Prince Edward Island: can book an appointment at either a COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic or from a participating pharmacy.
• Quebec: can make an appointment online by selecting “COVID-19 Vaccine – 3rd dose” on the appointment platform.
• Saskatchewan: will receive a letter from the Ministry of Health or their physician with instructions. You must bring the letter to vaccine appointment.
• Yukon: can make an appointment online through the CanImmunize page on ca.