COVID-19 Information for Patients

If you are a pharmacy professional, please visit the College’s “COVID-19: Information for Pharmacy Professionals” page.

If You Plan on Visiting Your Pharmacy 

COVID-19 Vaccines at the Pharmacy

For information on eligibility and access to COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario, please see the Ontario government’s COVID-19 Vaccine webpage.

Select pharmacies across the province are offering COVID-19 vaccines. Most pharmacies book appointments ahead of time and some allow walk-ins. Check with the pharmacy before you go.

COVID-19 Testing at the Pharmacy

As of November 18, 2021, the Ministry of Health expanded access to COVID-19 testing in participating pharmacies, including:

  • COVID-19 PCR specimen collection in select pharmacies for all individuals eligible for testing, including symptomatic individuals and close contacts. Pharmacies must choose to opt-in to this service and will be required to follow stringent infection prevention and control measures to protect staff, patients and customers against COVID-19.
  • Take-home PCR self-collection kits for eligible individuals, allowing them to pick up their free test and drop off their specimens at participating pharmacies across Ontario.

If you intend to go to a pharmacy for COVID-19 testing, you should be aware of the following:

  • Not all pharmacies offer this service
  • Participating pharmacies may require appointments or walk-ins may be accepted. Check with the pharmacy before visiting.
  • All public health measures must be followed when attending the pharmacy for testing, including wearing a mask, practicing physical distancing, and practicing hand hygiene.

Locate information about eligibility and testing centres, including pharmacies, on the Ontario government’s website.

Providing Notice to Your Pharmacy When Possible of Your Medication Needs

We encourage you to provide as much notice as possible to your pharmacy regarding your medication needs, including notifying pharmacies in advance of your need for a medication refill, and to remain patient as it may take a longer time than normal to process your prescription and receive your medication.

If You Have Symptoms

For information on symptoms, how to protect yourself, how to self-isolate, what to do if you have symptoms and how to care for those who are ill, please visit the Ontario government’s COVID-19 page. Additional resources are available from Public Health Ontario, Government of Canada, and the World Health Organization.

The Ministry of Health has created a self-assessment tool to determine if you need to seek further care.

If you are unable to attend an appointment with your prescriber, or are self-isolating, and require a refill of your medication, please contact your pharmacy to speak with your pharmacist as they may be able to assist with renewing your medication to ensure the continuity of your care.

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