Last updated: October 25, 2021 at 7:40 a.m.
Anyone born in 2009 or earlier is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Find out how to get vaccinated.
The City’s COVID-19 Immunization Task Force, which includes experts from Toronto Public Health, Toronto Fire, Toronto Paramedics Service and the Emergency Operations Centre, is actively planning to ensure the city is ready to deliver the vaccine when it is available. The Task Force is using lessons learned from our annual flu vaccine clinics and experiences from the H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009 to inform plans. City’s plan and work with government and community partners are outlined in the City’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program Playbook.
All levels of government play important roles in delivering the COVID-19 vaccine to residents:
Toronto’s Accessibility Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccines was established in March 2021 as part of the City’s COVID-19 Immunization Task Force outreach efforts and TO Supports: Targeted Equity Action Plan. It was formed in response to the high health risks associated with COVID-19 for people with disabilities and the need for improved information on and access to vaccination. (Read the news release and backgrounder.)
The Task Force, a collaboration between the City of Toronto, community agencies and health partners, provides advice on enhanced support and access to COVID-19 vaccines for people with disabilities. It is one of the approaches being used to communicate, mobilize and engage communities most affected by the pandemic in order to address systemic inequities.
The Black Scientists’ Task Force on Vaccine Equity was created in December 2020 as part of the TO Supports: Targeted Equity Action Plan, as a response to data that continued to show that the highest rates of COVID-19 cases and vaccine hesitancy were among Black people of African and Caribbean origins.
The Task Force was created in partnership with the TAIBU Community Health Centre, to address Black community concerns and issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, testing and vaccines, and is one of the approaches being used to communicate, mobilize and engage communities most affected by the pandemic in order to address systemic inequities.
The Task Force, which includes many of Canada’s top Black scientists involved in key aspects of vaccine development and Black public health, will review the major concerns and issues around COVID-19 testing and levels of vaccine acceptance, and develop public health recommendations to effectively address Black community concerns. The Task Force will present a final report of its findings and recommendations to the City by April 30, 2021.
Learn more about the Black Scientists’ Task Force on Vaccine Equity:
The City’s $5.5 million COVID-19 Vaccine Engagement Teams Grants was awarded in April 2021 to more than 150 community groups and agencies.
These agencies form collaborative vaccine engagement teams that are addressing barriers to acceptance and increasing uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in communities most negatively impacted by the virus.
At least one engagement team has been established in each of the City’s ten geographic clusters, representing 140 neighbourhoods. Each team is made up of a number of local community agencies that conducts outreach and provides support to residents, aligned to the unique languages and cultures of each area.
Teams have recruited 280 Resident Ambassadors in neighbourhoods across Toronto to act as points of contact for local residents, playing a key role in building vaccine confidence. Resident Ambassadors are trusted community representatives with extensive networks and who speak languages other than English. They have been thoroughly trained on information about community engagement.
| Area / Focus | Agency / Lead |
|---|---|
| Black Creek Humber Summit | Lumacare (lead) |
| Black Creek Humber Summit | Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women |
| Black Creek Humber Summit | Belka Enrichment Centre |
| Black Creek Humber Summit | Jane Finch Centre |
| Black Creek Humber Summit | Delta Family Resource Centre |
| Black Creek Humber Summit | CAFCAN |
| Black Creek Humber Summit | Black Creek Farm |
| Black Creek Humber Summit | ANIDA |
| Black Creek Humber Summit | Black Creek Community Health Centre |
| Black Creek Humber Summit | Albion Neighbourhood Services |
| Black Creek Humber Summit | Northwood Neighbourhood Services |
| Black Resilience | TAIBU Community Health Centre (lead) |
| Black Resilience | BlackCAP |
| Black Resilience | Uzima Women Relief Group |
| Black Resilience | Sick Cell Awareness Group of Ontario |
| Black Resilience | Margaret’s Toronto East Drop In |
| Black Resilience | Centre Francophone du Grand Toronto |
| Black Resilience | Scarborough Indigenous Wellness Advisory Council |
| Black Resilience | Braids for Aids |
| Black Resilience | Belka Enrichment Centre |
| Black Resilience | Ghanaian Canadian Association |
| Black Resilience | Black Health Alliance |
| Downtown East | The 519 Community Centre (lead) |
| Downtown East | South Asian Aids Prevention |
| Downtown East | Focus Media Arts Centre |
| Downtown East | Fred Victor |
| Downtown East | Homes First |
| Downtown East | Haven Toronto |
| Downtown East | Inner City Health Associates |
| Downtown East | La Passerelle |
| Downtown East | Progress Place |
| Downtown East | Regent Park Community Health Centre |
| Downtown East | Sherbourne Health Centre |
| Downtown East | Sunshine Centre for Seniors |
| Downtown East | The Corner/HASJT |
| Downtown East | The Salvation Army Shelters |
| Downtown East | YMCA Greater Toronto |
| Downtown East | Yonge Street Mission |
| Downtown East | The Neighbourhood Group (TNG) |
| Downtown West | Scadding Court Community Centre (Lead) |
| Downtown West | Fort York Foodbank Parkdale |
| Downtown West | Envangel Hall Mission |
| Downtown West | Spadina-Fort York Community Care Program |
| Downtown West | Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre |
| Downtown West | Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre |
| Downtown West | CultureLink |
| Downtown West | Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre |
| Downtown West | The Neighbourhood Group (TNG) |
| Downtown West | West Neighbourhood House |
| Downtown West | Alexandra Park Community Centre |
| East York Don Valley | TNO – The Neighbourhood Organization (Co-Lead) |
| East York Don Valley | Flemingdon Health Centre |
| East York Don Valley | Health Access Thorncliffe Park |
| East York Don Valley | Afghan Women’s Organization |
| East York Don Valley | East Toronto Family Practice Network |
| East York Don Valley | East Toronto Health Partners |
| East York Don Valley | Toronto Community Housing |
| East York Don Valley | Youth Leaders of East York |
| East York Don Valley | Thorncliffe Park Parenting Group |
| East York Don Valley | Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services (Co-Lead) |
| East York Don Valley | Afghan Women’s Organization |
| East York Don Valley | Bangladeshi-Canadian Community Services |
| East York Don Valley | The Neighbourhood Group (TNG) |
| East York Don Valley | TNO – The Neighbourhood Organization |
| East York Don Valley | Woodgreen |
| East York Don Valley | Working Women Community Centre |
| East York Don Valley | Toronto Community Housing |
| East York Don Valley | East Toronto Health Partners |
| Newcomer | FCJ Refugee Centre (Co-lead) |
| Newcomer | Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture |
| Newcomer | Toronto South Local Immigration Partnership |
| Newcomer | Christie Refugee Welcome Centre |
| Newcomer | Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services |
| Newcomer | Sojourn House |
| Newcomer | Romero House |
| Newcomer | Adam House |
| Newcomer | Centre Francophone du Grand Toronto |
| Newcomer | Matthew House |
| Newcomer | Jane Finch Centre (Co-lead) |
| Newcomer | YMCA of Greater Toronto |
| Newcomer | Polycultural Immigrant and Community Services |
| Newcomer | Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services |
| Newcomer | Afro-Carib Immigration Settlement Centre |
| Newcomer | Belka Enrichment Centre |
| Newcomer | Centre Francophone du Grand Toronto |
| Newcomer | The Arab Community Centre of Toronto |
| North Etobicoke | Rexdale Community Health Centre (lead) |
| North Etobicoke | Albion Neighbourhood Services |
| North Etobicoke | Breaburn Neighbourhood Services |
| North Etobicoke | Delta Family Resource Centre |
| North Etobicoke | Ghanaian Canadian Association |
| North Etobicoke | Rexdale Community Hub |
| North Etobicoke | Rexdale Women’s Centre |
| North Etobicoke | Somali Canadian Association |
| North Etobicoke | Somali Women and Children |
| North Scarborough | Agincourt Community Services Association (lead) |
| North Scarborough | Malvern Family Resource Centre |
| North Scarborough | SEAS Centre |
| North Scarborough | Tamil Canadian Centre for Civic Action |
| North Scarborough | North American Muslim Foundation |
| North Scarborough | 42 Voices |
| North Scarborough | Tropicana Community Services |
| North Scarborough | The Canadian Centre for Refugee and Immigrant Health Care |
| North Scarborough | Carefirst |
| North Scarborough | Toronto East Quadrant Local Immigration Partnership |
| North Scarborough | Centre for Immigrant and Community Services |
| North York | North York Community House (lead) |
| North York | Working Women Community Centre |
| North York | Lawrence Heights Inter-Organizational Network |
| North York | Lawrence Heights Parents Association |
| North York | Unison Health and Community Centre |
| North York | Bathurst Finch Food Coalition |
| North York | Flemingdon Health Centre |
| North York | Filipino Canadian Community House |
| North York | Vibrant Healthcare Alliance |
| North York | Damavand Seniors Persian Group |
| North York | The People’s Church |
| North York | Toronto Community Housing |
| North York | Oriole Food Space |
| North York | Friends of Parkway Forest Residents Group |
| North York | Henry Farm Community Residents Group |
| North York | Forest Manor Residents Group |
| North York | North York Toronto Health Partners |
| South Etobicoke | Lakeshore Area Multi-Service Project (LAMP) (lead) |
| South Etobicoke | Arab Community Centre |
| South Etobicoke | Dorothy Ley Hospice |
| South Etobicoke | Etobicoke Centre for Seniors |
| South Etobicoke | Humber College |
| South Etobicoke | LAMP Community Health Centre |
| South Etobicoke | Mabelle Arts |
| South Etobicoke | Stonegate Community Health Centre |
| South Etobicoke | Storefront Humber |
| South Etobicoke | Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre |
| South Etobicoke | Women’s Habitat |
| South Scarborough | Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities (lead) |
| South Scarborough | Agincourt Community Services Association |
| South Scarborough | Working Women Community Centre |
| South Scarborough | Settlement Assistance and Family Support Services |
| South Scarborough | East Scarborough Storefront |
| South Scarborough | Carefirst |
| South Scarborough | Save Toronto Carnival |
| South Scarborough | Canadian Centre for Immigrant and Refugee Health Care |
| South Scarborough | Feed Scarborough |
| South Scarborough | The Housing Help Centre |
| York Weston Pelham | Syme Woolner Neighbourhood and Family Centre (lead) |
| York Weston Pelham | Jane Alliance Neighbourhood Centre |
| York Weston Pelham | Shakespeare in Action |
| York Weston Pelham | Abrigo Centre |
| York Weston Pelham | Progress Place Hub |
| York Weston Pelham | Macaulay Child Development Centre |
| York Weston Pelham | Urban Arts |
| York Weston Pelham | Frontlines Youth |
| York Weston Pelham | York Fairbank Centre for Seniors |
| York Weston Pelham | York Hispanic Centre |
| York Weston Pelham | Weston King Neighbourhood Centre |
The Toronto Youth Vaccine Engagement Strategy was launched in June 2021 to establish youth-targeted equity engagement and mobilization actions, and encourage and enable COVID-19 vaccine uptake among vulnerable youth in communities disproportionally affected by COVID-19.
The Strategy is a part of the City’s Vaccine Engagement and Mobilization Plan and is a partnership between the City of Toronto and the Toronto Youth Cabinet.
A key aspect of the Strategy is the Toronto Youth Vaccine Engagement Advisory Committee, which is a youth-led group made up members of the Toronto Youth Cabinet and other youth leads. The Advisory Committee works with youth-focused groups in the city to ensure engagement tactics and outreach focus on youth with a youth-friendly lens.
Read the News Release.
Thank you, Toronto! Toronto Vaccine Day set a record with close to 27,000 vaccine doses.
On June 27, a total of 26,771 Torontonians joined the City of Toronto and Team Toronto vaccination partners at the Toronto Vaccine Day “Our Winning Shot” clinic at Scotiabank Arena. The total COVID-19 vaccine doses administered are believed to be a new world record for most one-day COVID-19 vaccinations given at a single clinic.
Total vaccines administered: 26,771
Total adults vaccinated: 25,476
Total youth vaccinated: 1,295
First doses: 981
Second Doses: 25,793
Records Set:
People attending the clinic were entertained by Kiss 92.5’s DJ Clymaxxx and Breakfast Television’s Devo Brown, with visits from Carlton the Bear and the Raptor. Fifty lucky vaccine recipients – one every 30 minutes – also won Toronto Maple Leaf or Toronto Raptor tickets for an upcoming game.
The “Our Winning Shot” clinic was made possible through a partnership between the City, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), Scotiabank, University Health Network and Michael Garron Hospital. All partners want to thank the nearly 1,500 staff and volunteers that made the day a historic success.
Read the news release.
Team Toronto delivered a city-wide series of pop-up vaccination clinics for first and second doses from Thursday, September 16 to Sunday, September 19, 2021.
Data shows that unvaccinated individuals are seven times more likely to become infected with COVID-19. Receiving two vaccine doses provides the best protection against the Delta variant, severe illness and outcomes.
Days of Vaxtion partners include Toronto Public Health, the TTC, Black Creek Humber Summit, Humber River Hospital, Michael Garron Hospital, North York General Hospital, Sherbourne Health, Unity Health, Scarborough Health Team and other community partners.
Read the news release.
#ShopAndVax was a focused initiative to bring COVID-19 vaccines to local shopping centres.
The campaign was part of Team Toronto’s efforts to make COVID-19 vaccines as accessible as possible and to bring vaccines to where residents live, work and play.
The City of Toronto partnered with Toronto Public Health, University Health Network, along with Cadillac Fairview Corp. Ltd. and Oxford Properties Group to hold a number of mobile clinics to support a low-barrier access for residents to get their first or second COVID-19 vaccine dose.
Read the news release.
On Saturday, October 2, 2021, Toronto residents born in 2009 or before were invited to get their first or second COVID-19 vaccine dose in their own neighbourhood. #Vax25 featured 37 vaccine clinics, with at least one clinic in each of the City’s 25 wards.
Read the news release.
VaxGiving was one of the City of Toronto’s campaigns to encourage residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19. VaxGiving took place October 6-15, with vaccination clinics offered over the Thanksgiving long weekend. The City promoted clinics at TTC stations, malls, schools, community centres and libraries – places Torontonians live, work and play – open to anyone who needed a first or second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Read the news release.
Shop And Vax 2.0 brought COVID-19 vaccine clinics to local shopping centres and pharmacies on Saturday, October 16 and Sunday, October 17. This campaign expanded on the first Shop And Vax, held in late September, by featuring pop-up clinics in local plazas and malls.
Shop And Vax 2.0 – which highlighted 24 clinics in malls and plazas across the city – was part of Team Toronto’s continued efforts to make COVID-19 vaccines as accessible as possible and to bring vaccines to where residents live, work and play.
Read the news release.
Vaccine walk-in clinics were open at six subway stations from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Thursday, October 21 to Saturday, October 23.
Locations:
Read the news release.