News Release
March 22, 2021

On Wednesday, March 24, the City of Toronto and East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP), the Ontario Health Team serving East Toronto, will open a mass immunization clinic at the Thorncliffe Park Community Hub located in the East York Town Centre. The new Thorncliffe Park Community Hub clinic expects to administer approximately 1,200 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine on its first day of operations on Wednesday.

This partnership clinic would be the City’s tenth mass immunization site, on top of the nine City-operated clinics already announced. As supply availability increases and more staff are hired, the Thorncliffe Park site will ultimately be able to vaccinate 10,000 people per day.

Appointments for the new Thorncliffe Park Community Hub clinic are available to those turning 75 years of age or older in 2021. Eligible seniors can book appointments through the dark blue “Find out if you are eligible to book” button on toronto.ca/covid-19 or book by phone through the Provincial Vaccine Information Line at 1-888-999-6488 (TTY 1-866-797-0007). More information on booking options is available on the Province’s What to expect when you get a COVID-19 vaccine webpage.

The community of Thorncliffe, nestled between the east and west branches of the Don River and Eglinton Avenue, is a rapidly growing, multicultural neighbourhood. It is home to tens of thousands of people living close together in the community in high-rise buildings. COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on the neighbourhood, with high-density housing that makes it difficult to physically distance and stay home, a high volume of essential workers and often many families living with lower socio-economic status.

The new clinic serving this priority population joins the three City-operated mass immunization clinics already operating: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto Congress Centre and Scarborough Town Centre. The location also neighbours three ETHP-operated immunization clinics open in East Toronto: Michael Garron Hospital,

Warden Hilltop Community Centre and Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre. In addition to operating four COVID-19 immunization clinics, the ETHP mobile vaccination team continues to administer vaccinations in seniors’ congregate settings, shelters and dedicated pop-up clinics in family physician offices and community health centres.

The City- and ETHP-operated clinics are part of a vaccination network that includes the City-operated clinics and hundreds of clinics operated by health sector partners including hospitals and pharmacies. A map of vaccination options in Toronto is available on the City’s COVID-19: Vaccine Clinic Locations webpage.

As Toronto continues the rollout of mass immunization, the City continues to urge all residents to stay home as much as possible to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Please review the City’s simple “Dos” and “Don’ts” guide for recommended and mandatory public health measures under provincial regulations and City bylaws.

Quotes:

“This is a major step forward in our vaccination efforts in Thorncliffe Park. The City of Toronto is proud to partner with East Toronto Health Partners – including Michael Garron Hospital – to open a mass immunization site at the East York Town Centre. I want to thank the East Toronto Health Partners for leading in the effort to establish this clinic in Thorncliffe Park along with local Councillor Jaye Robinson and Toronto Public Health. Vaccinating our residents living in hard hit communities has been a priority for all of our partners involved in our vaccination efforts. This is just one of many initiatives the City has undertaken with our health partners and a true example of the Team Toronto effort underway to get shots in as many arms as possible as soon as possible, supply permitting.”

– Mayor John Tory

“As the local Councillor, I know that Thorncliffe Park has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, with some of the highest infection rates in the entire city. Since I first learned that our health partners had the opportunity to access to a 60,000 square foot facility in the heart of Thorncliffe Park, I have been working with Toronto Public Health, East Toronto Health Partners and Michael Garron Hospital to make this vision a reality. After countless meetings, I am very proud to be a part of opening a new mass immunization clinic that will have the capacity to vaccinate thousands of Thorncliffe Park and surrounding community residents. Thank you to everyone involved in this important initiative.”

– Councillor Jaye Robinson (Don Valley West)

“East Toronto Health Partners has spent every day of this pandemic working collaboratively with more than 50 local organizations to offer East Toronto communities hardest hit by COVID-19 with increased access to testing, wraparound supports, social services, food security and more. I am so proud to stand here with my ETHP colleagues to announce this mass immunization centre which will bring our communities one step closer to the recovery journey from COVID-19.”

– Sarah Downey, President and CEO of Michael Garron Hospital

“By placing a COVID-19 mass immunization centre in the heart of this neighbourhood, our hope is to reduce barriers such as location and transportation to make the COVID-19 vaccine as accessible as possible for individuals living in this community.”

– Dr. Catherine Yu, family physician at Health Access Thorncliffe Park (HATP) and physician lead at East Toronto Family Practice Network

East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP), the Ontario Health Team (OHT) serving East Toronto, is a group of more than 50 community, primary care, home care, hospital and social services organizations in East Toronto working together to create an integrated system of care across our communities. Collectively, ETHP is responsible for providing care and support to the 300,000 individuals who live in East Toronto communities, as well as an additional 75,000 clients who choose to receive health care in the local area. Clients, family members and caregivers are partners in every aspect of the development of ETHP, working together to improve the way East Toronto residents access and receive care. Visit ethp.ca to learn more.

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.

Media Relations
City of Toronto
Media Relations
East Toronto Health Partners