Book an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine (primary series, booster dose or next dose). When you book your appointment, the vaccine offered will depend on your age group.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): book your vaccination appointment
Most Nova Scotians will receive their vaccine by age group. When you’re eligible, you can book your appointment. Most appointments need to be booked in advance.
On this page
Booking an appointment
You need to book an appointment to get vaccinated. Most appointments need to be booked in advance. You may also be able to go to a community drop-in clinic, outreach clinic or pharmacy drop-in clinic.
If you provide an email when you book an appointment, you receive a digital copy of your COVID-19 vaccine receipt. By providing an email you also receive appointment confirmations and reminders.
Nova Scotia Health Card
You need to have a Nova Scotia Health Card to book your appointment online. If your card is expired, you can still book an appointment. If you need to renew your Health Card, use the Health Card Renewal Form (PDF).
If you don't have a Nova Scotia Health Card you need to book your appointment by calling the toll-free line: 1-833-797-7772.
Immunocompromised people
If you’re moderately to severely immunocompromised, you may be eligible for an additional dose. If you already received a booster dose (or a first and second booster dose), you need to email c19compassionate@novascotia.ca to book an appointment.
Interpretation services
If you need service in a language other than English, you can ask for an interpreter when you book your appointment by phone (over 125 different languages are available). If your appointment is at a pharmacy vaccination clinic, you have immediate access at the clinic to a phone-based interpreter in more than 240 languages.
Before your appointment
Make sure you cancel your vaccination appointment if:
- you have tested positive for COVID-19
- you have COVID-19 symptoms (even mild symptoms)
- Public Health has told you to self-isolate or you’re required to self-isolate
In-home appointments
People 12 and older with significant health-related challenges who are not able to leave their homes to get the COVID-19 vaccine may be eligible to receive the vaccine at home. You need to call 211 to complete the screening process to confirm your eligibility. Once your eligibility is confirmed, you will be contacted to schedule your appointment.
If you test positive for COVID-19
You need to cancel or reschedule your vaccination appointment if you test positive for COVID-19. You can still get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster dose after you test positive for COVID-19.
If you test positive for COVID-19, you should wait:
- at least 2 months to get a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine
- at least 2 months to get a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine
- at least 168 days to get a booster dose or next dose (after your primary series) of COVID-19 vaccine
- at least 120 days to get a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine (after your primary series) if you are moderately to severely immunocompromised, a member of a First Nations community who is 55 or older, an African Nova Scotian who is 50 or older, an adult resident of long-term care or senior congregate setting, a pregnant person, or if you are 70 or older
Appointments for an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna)
You can get an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) if you're 5 or older. Children 6 months to 4 can get the Moderna vaccine. You can only book your appointment online or by calling the toll-free line. Don't call the vaccination clinic directly.
If you have questions about people under 18 getting the vaccine without parental or guardian consent, the Mature Minor Consent for COVID-19 Immunization Factsheet (PDF) provides more information about how consent for healthcare decisions for minors works.
Book an appointment (Pfizer or Moderna)
To book your appointment by phone, call 1-833-797-7772 (Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm and Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm). You need to call from a Canadian phone number and be in Canada when you call.
Appointments for a non-mRNA vaccine (Novavax, Janssen or AstraZeneca)
You can get a non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Novavax, Janssen or AstraZeneca) if you're 18 or older. You can only book your appointment online or by calling the toll-free line. Don't call the vaccination clinic directly.
Book an appointment (Novavax, Janssen or AstraZeneca)
To book your appointment by phone, call 1-833-797-7772 (Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm and Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm). You need to call from a Canadian phone number and be in Canada when you call.
Transportation for vaccination clinics
The Government of Nova Scotia has partnered with the Rural Transportation Association to provide low-cost transportation for people who are not able to get to their appointment. If you need help with transportation, visit Rural Rides to find a local provider and book a ride for your vaccination appointment (rides are $5 for a round trip).
If you don’t have a Nova Scotia Health Card
If you don’t have a Nova Scotia Health Card you can still receive the vaccine, even if you're not a permanent resident of Nova Scotia.
You can only book an appointment by phone.
After your appointment
After your appointment, you need to continue to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Even when you're vaccinated, you need to follow public health measures, including social distancing guidelines and wearing a mask.
Proof of vaccination
If you get a COVID-19 vaccine in Nova Scotia, your Nova Scotia COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination includes the date, time, type, brand and lot number of COVID-19 vaccine you received. Within the province, you can use your Nova Scotia COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination to show proof of vaccination.
Your Nova Scotia COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination can be used for travel. If you travel internationally, you may need proof of vaccination with the standardized QR code. Proof of vaccination with the standardized QR code was available starting 4 October 2021. You should always check with the jurisdiction you’re travelling to about what documentation they accept as proof of vaccination.
As part of the mandatory vaccination protocol for high-risk settings, most people who work in the public sector providing services and supports to vulnerable people need proof of full vaccination.
Get your Nova Scotia COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination
If you provide an email when you book your vaccination appointment, you receive a digital copy of your Nova Scotia COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination by email (email is sent from noreply@canimmunize.ca). You can also get your Nova Scotia COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination online. Make sure you have your Health Card and the email address or phone number you used to book your vaccination appointment.
If you don’t provide an email when you book your vaccination appointment or you didn’t receive a digital copy of your Nova Scotia COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination by email, call 1-833-797-7772 (Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm) to provide an email or request a copy of your proof of vaccination. You need to call from a Canadian phone number and be in Canada when you call.
Update your proof of vaccination
If your Nova Scotia COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination has an error or missing information, call 1-833-797-7772 (Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm) to report an issue with your proof of vaccination. You can also call to report an issue if you can’t get your Nova Scotia COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination online using your Canadian Health Card number and the email address or phone number you used to book your vaccination appointment.
When you call to report an issue with your proof of vaccination, you may need to provide your:
- name
- date of birth
- email address or phone number you used to book your appointment
- Health Card number
- type and date of COVID-19 vaccine you received (for each dose)
After you report an issue, it should take 2 weeks to get a new digital copy of your Nova Scotia COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination. It can take longer if more information is needed.
Out-of-province vaccines
Permanent residents of Nova Scotia who receive 1 or 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccine in another province, territory or country (or outside a Nova Scotia vaccination clinic like a community, pharmacy or drive-thru clinic) can have their out-of-province vaccinations included on their Nova Scotia COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination. People who are not permanent residents of Nova Scotia but receive at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the province can also have their out-of-province vaccinations included on their Nova Scotia COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination.
If you’re a permanent resident of Nova Scotia, you can update your Nova Scotia COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination to include your out-of-province vaccinations. You can’t update your proof of vaccination online if you’re outside Canada or your computer’s IP address is outside Canada.
You need to provide proof that you received the COVID-19 vaccine, including the date, type, brand and lot number of COVID-19 vaccine you received. Documentation must be issued by the government or the organization that administered the vaccine and show the name of the issuing government or the name and civic address of the organization that administered the vaccine.
Before you start, make sure you have:
- official proof of vaccination from the province, territory, state, or country where you received 1 or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine
- Health Card number (if you have one)
- government-issued identification (ID) card
It should take at least 3 weeks to update your Nova Scotia COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination. It can take longer if more information is needed (you will need to restart the process if more documentation is required).