Information for People with Severe Respiratory Conditions

What respiratory conditions make me eligible for receiving my COVID-19 vaccine?

All patients on chronic oxygen therapy (regardless of disease);
All patients (≥16 years of age) with cystic fibrosis;
All patients with interstitial lung disease (e.g. idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease, etc.);
Patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) requiring PH-specific therapy;
Any asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patient with a severe exacerbation in the previous year (resulting in emergency room visit or admission); and
Any patient with severe lung disease based on PFT (FVC or FEV1 or TLC less than 50 per cent).

It is very important that you monitor how you are feeling in the days leading up to your vaccine appointment. If you do not feel well, rebook for when you are feeling better.

All of the COVID-19 vaccines available in Canada are safe, and they do not contain any live virus. The vaccines cannot give you COVID-19.
Doctors and researchers have looked at the evidence. They agree that unless have a very serious allergy to any of the vaccine ingredients, you should strongly consider getting the COVID-19 vaccine. People with respiratory conditions have a higher chance of experiencing severe symptoms from COVID-19.

If you take medications for your respiratory condition and you aren’t sure if you need to worry about timing, call to discuss with your health-care provider.

Review COVID-19 Immunization Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador
It is important that you are feeling as well as possible when you get your vaccine. However, some people with respiratory conditions have chronic symptoms, like coughing, sputum production, and shortness of breath.
Monitor yourself for 4-5 days before your vaccine appointment: are any of your symptoms new or getting worse? If you are not feeling like your usual self, rebook your vaccine appointment for another day. Please contact your health care provider about any new or worsening symptoms.
If you are having any other more serious respiratory related problems it is best to call your health care provider. You may have to wait until you are considered stable before you get vaccinated for COVID-19.

Please bring your non-expired MCP card to your appointment.
You can bring any medical or mobility equipment that you need.
If you need to, you can bring a trusted friend, family member or caregiver with you to support you through the process and/or translate for you as needed. Please only bring one person.

Everyone who gets a COVID-19 vaccine will stay on location to be monitored for 15 minutes after they get their vaccine.
You should tell a health-care provider at the vaccination site if you do not feel well.
If you have any new or worsening symptoms once you go home, please call your health care team or 811. If you have a severe allergic reaction, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Everyone will have to continue following COVID-19 public health measures for a while, even after getting their vaccine.

Read the COVID-19 vaccine information for my condition(s)
Time my vaccine appointment around my medication and treatments (if relevant to me)
Talk to my doctor if I have any questions or need any help planning my medication
Monitor how I’m feeling leading up to my vaccination appointment. Is anything new or getting worse compared to how I usually feel?
Make sure I am feeling my usual self on the day of my vaccine appointment
Plan to bring the medical and mobility equipment I need with me

April 23, 2021