Today, Mayor John Tory announced that Team Toronto has now administered two doses of COVID-19 vaccine to 85 per cent of eligible Toronto residents.
As the largest city in Canada and fourth largest in North America, Toronto has the highest fully vaccinated rate for its entire population when compared to other major metropolitan cities such as New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and London, England.
This is another major milestone in the largest vaccination campaign in the city’s history as Team Toronto works to reach the goal of ensuring that 90 per cent of residents age 12 and older have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. More than 5,002,515 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Toronto, including first, second and third doses.
The data-driven and equity-focused vaccination campaign started in Toronto in December 2020, with doses being administered by Toronto’s hospital partners to frontline hospital workers and individuals in long-term care. As eligibility expanded, the first-city run immunization clinics opened in Toronto. Since then, Team Toronto has led a large mobile campaign to ensure vaccines are accessible to residents by bringing clinics to workplaces, arenas, shelters, libraries, subway stops, drop-in centres, schools, retirement communities among other locations.
During the vaccination campaign, Toronto Public Health (TPH) has also continued with its efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 and investigate cases and contacts, while maintaining other critical public health programs such as food safety and harm reduction.
Team Toronto will continue removing barriers to vaccination for all Torontonians, while getting ready to administer vaccines to residents 5 to 11 years old once approved and available in the City.
All eligible residents are urged to start their vaccination series, or get their second dose to complete it if they have not already done so. The COVID-19 vaccine remains the best protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death. Recent data has shown that the majority of hospitalizations, ICU admission, intubation and death due COVID-19 infection have been in Toronto residents who were unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated. For more information on how and where to vaccinated, please visit COVID-19: How to Get Vaccinated
Quotes
“We are continuing to make great progress helping residents get vaccinated. Having more than 85 per cent of eligible residents fully vaccinated is a huge achievement for Team Toronto. It’s also a testament to the residents of Toronto that so many people have already stepped up to do the right thing. We’re not going to give up on helping people. Team Toronto is out across the city today continuing the tireless work administering vaccine. If you’re not vaccinated yet, please get vaccinated to better protect yourself and your city from COVID-19.”
– Toronto Mayor John Tory
“This is the biggest vaccination campaign in the history of Toronto and I wanted to express my gratitude to my team at Toronto Public Health who has and continues to work tirelessly, seven days a week, to ensure every single Torontonian has access to COVID-19 vaccines. Thank you to all Torontonians for the effort they have made to ensure that they, their friends, their loved ones and their communities are protected from the worst effects of COVID-19 by being fully vaccinated.”
– Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health
“Reaching 85 per cent of eligible residents fully vaccinated is an incredible Team Toronto accomplishment. By breaking down barriers and connecting with people in their own communities, we’re getting closer each day to our goal of 90 per cent fully vaccinated. We’re almost there, but our work to get our city vaccinated continues. Toronto, let’s get there together.”
– Councillor Joe Cressy (Spadina-Fort York), Chair of the Toronto Board of Health
Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.