COVID-19 information for adults with 22q

All individuals with 22q should receive the vaccine - the two doses protect very well against the worst effects of the virus.

All close contacts (e.g., immediate family members) of individuals with 22q should also receive the vaccine, in order to protect the person in the family likely to be most in danger of getting very sick from the virus (that is, the person with 22q).

[NEW] As of October 22nd, 2021, all essential care partners must show their proof of vaccination against COVID-19 when they enter the Toronto General Hospital and other UHN sites.

Individuals who have recovered from a COVID-19 infection should still receive the COVID-19 vaccine. If you remain unvaccinated, you are more than twice as likely as fully vaccinated people to get COVID-19 again.

COVID-19 vaccines are highly recommended for those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy. People who experienced severe, immediate allergic reactions after a first dose of COVID-19 can safely receive future doses after consulting with an appropriate physician, and that the optimal interval between COVID-19 mRNA vaccines appears to be 8 weeks.

A third dose is now available to individuals who meet certain criteria, including:

  • Individuals with moderate to severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g. DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)”. “DiGeorge syndrome” is an older name for 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q).
    • Before you go for your third dose, please obtain a referral form or letter from your healthcare provider.
  • Adults 70 years of age and older
  • Health care workers and any staff members in healthcare organization
  • Recipients of one or two doses of the AstraZeneca / COVISHIELD or Janssen vaccine

It is safe to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu shot at the same time.

Disclaimer: The following information pages are provided for educational purposes only. They are not intended to be taken as medical advice. If you have questions or concerns, please discuss them with your doctor or healthcare provider.

Information about COVID-19 Vaccines

On September 16, 2021, Health Canada formally granted full approval for the two COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna to be used in individuals aged 12 and above in Canada. AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine is still authorized under an interim order.

There is also a name change for these three vaccines:

Old name (name of manufacturer)New name
Pfizer-BioNTechComirnaty (pronounced koe-mir’-na-tee)
= Covid-19 immunity + mRNA + community
ModernaSpikevax
AstraZenecaVaxzevria

The contents of these vaccines did not change, and all three give excellent protection against the COVID-19 disease.

None of these contain any live virus. They cannot cause disease. So they are safe for people with immune deficiencies, just as they are for everyone else in the general population.

Even for people who don’t make antibodies very well, the vaccine will help protect against the COVID-19 disease.

If you have any concerns, please check with your doctor. You can also call the VaxFacts Clinic of the Scarborough Health Network to book a phone appointment. VaxFacts is an opportunity for a one-to-one, judgement-free phone call with a physician, to address any questions or concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines. They have successfully counselled hundreds of patients in the past couple of months and have now opened up to all of Canada.

COVID-19 vaccine info for individual with 22q
COVID-19 Vaccine info for everyone

[Return to top]

Booking appointments for vaccination against COVID-19

Our Clinic strongly encourages everyone to be vaccinated against COVID-19 with both doses of the highly effective vaccinations that prevent serious disease and death from this virus, including the delta variant. This is especially important for people with 22q who are a known vulnerable population. And for anyone who is in contact with people with 22q.

For individuals with anxiety or needle phobia, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto offers a vaccination clinic that can accommodate their needs on specific days.

A third dose is now available to individuals who meet certain criteria, including “Individuals with moderate to severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)”. “DiGeorge syndrome” is an older name for 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q). Those who are eligible should receive their third dose 8 weeks after the second dose.

Before you go for the appointment for your third dose, please obtain a referral form or letter from your healthcare provider.

It is safe to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu shot at the same time, so if you’re receiving your flu shot and still have yet to receive a first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, now is the time. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.

Please visit the websites below for more information and to book an appointment.

City of Toronto: How to get vaccinated

Ontario government’s COVID-19 vaccine website

If you need help booking a vaccination appointment, please call us at (416) 340-5145 or email us at 22q@uhn.ca.

Getting a ride to your vaccination appointment in Toronto.

[Return to top]

Ontario's Vaccination Certificate Plan

Ontarians who are at least 12 years old are required to prove that they are vaccinated (two doses plus 14 days) before entering or using non-essential businesses or services.

You will need:

  • Your ID that shows your name and date of birth (photo identification is NOT required)
  • Your vaccination receipts or enhanced vaccination certificate (the QR code)
    • You must have received your second dose at least 14 days before you seek access to the business or organization
    • You can obtain your vaccination receipts or enhanced vaccination certificate (the QR code) on Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccination website.
      • You will need the front and back numbers on your green health card
      • If you need help getting your vaccination receipts or enhanced vaccination certificate, please email our Clinic at 22q@uhn.ca or call us at (416) 340-5145 as soon as possible.

The name and date of birth on your ID and your vaccination receipt (or enhanced vaccination certificate) must match.

For more information, please visit the Government of Ontario’s New Requirement for Proof of Vaccination in Certain Settings: Frequently Asked Questions site.

Please note that there are very few acceptable medical exemptions to the COVID-19 vaccination. They are:
  • an allergist/immunologist-confirmed severe allergy or anaphylactic reaction to a previous dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or to any of its components that cannot be mitigated
  • a diagnosed episode of myocarditis/pericarditis after receipt of an mRNA vaccine
At no time will anyone be prevented from accessing necessary medical care, food from grocery store, basic medical supplies or other essentials based on vaccination status.

[Return to top]

Symptoms

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a new coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2.

COVID-19 symptoms and treatment (Government of Canada website)

Self assessment (Government of Ontario website)

[Return to top]

How to avoid COVID-19

Although this disease has been spreading quickly around the world, there are a few things you can do to avoid catching it.

[Return to top]

Getting tested for COVID-19 in Ontario

Concerned that you may have been exposed to COVID-19?

[Return to top]

Policies on self-isolation and quarantine

Policy on self isolation in Ontario

Testing and quarantine policy for crossing the Canadian border

  • Travelers who are fully vaccinated follow a different set of rules compared to those who are not
  • As of September 7th, 2021, fully vaccinated foreign nationals can enter Canada for discretionary travel.

[Return to top]

Reliable resources for information on COVID-19

COVID-19 Information for individuals with 22q
COVID-19 Information for individuals with immunodeficiencies

Videos from the Immune Deficiency Foundation

COVID-19 Information for everyone

There is a lot of information on the Internet about the current pandemic, but not everything is accurate.

Please visit the following websites for the most up-to-date and reliable information:

[Return to top]

What to do for appointments at our Clinic

Please do not come to the Clinic if you have any of the symptoms. Depending on your situation, you may be able to have your appointment remotely.

Please see our section on Clinic operations and hospital restrictions during COVID-19.

Please note that Toronto General Hospital has a Universal Masking Policy.

  • Cloth masks are not permitted at UHN.
  • Everyone entering UHN must wear a medical mask. If you are wearing a mask from home, screening staff will give you a medical mask to wear instead.
  • UHN physicians and Nurse Practitioners are the only two healthcare providers who can approve a patient face mask exemption, and must provide exempt patients with a completed Face Mask Exemption Form. Please contact our Clinic at least 1 week before your appointment if you would like a mask exemption. Even with an exemption, you will be required to wear a face shield while at UHN which will be provided at our screening entrances. You will also receive a ‘mask exemption sticker’.

[Return to top]

Support and financial assistance

While there are support services and financial assistance available, we urge you to be very careful about possible scams. Please visit the Government of Canada’s Slam the scam website to learn how to protect yourself.

Support
Financial assistance

[Return to top]