Toronto Vaccine Day “Our Winning Shot” clinic partners Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and Scotiabank have teamed up with the City of Toronto, Michael Garron Hospital and University Health Network to build excitement for Sunday’s record breaking 25,000-shot COVID-19 vaccination clinic.
While everyone coming to the clinic is a winner for booking their shot to protect themselves, friends and family against COVID-19, the Toronto Vaccine Day team is going further to say thank you. All 25,000 people who get vaccinated at the “Our Winning Shot” Scotiabank Arena clinic will receive a free rally towel marking Toronto Vaccine Day. Throughout the day on Sunday, for each 1,000 people that are vaccinated, the Toronto Vaccine Day team is also giving away one pair of Toronto Maple Leafs and one pair of Toronto Raptors tickets – 50 pairs of the hottest tickets in town.
For all the TikTokers getting vaccinated at the “Our Winning Shot” clinic, the Scotiabank Arena TikTok channel will be running a contest asking people to create a before/after video of their shot. Grand prize includes two tickets to Leafs or Raptors game, pre-game dinner for two at Real Sports, two jerseys and a surprise visit from a special guest.
Throughout the day on Sunday, the clinic will have entertainment by Kiss 92.5 DJ Clymaxxx and CityTV Breakfast Television host Devo Brown. Carlton the Bear and The Raptor will also be stopping by the clinic, offering physically distant congratulations to people getting their shot. “Voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs” Joe Bowen and renowned Toronto Raptors broadcaster Matt “Matty D” Devlin have recorded social media greetings cheering on Torontonians getting vaccinated and Team Toronto staff and volunteers. Hear the messages on the City’s Toronto Vaccine Day YouTube playlist.
Even though the “Our Winning Shot” clinic is fully booked there may be appointments available if there are cancellations. Anyone looking for an appointment is asked to check the provincial vaccine booking system regularly. Anyone who can no longer attend their appointment is urged to cancel through the provincial Manage Your Appointment(s) webpage or by calling the provincial vaccine booking line at 1-833-943-3900 so that someone else can schedule an appointment and be part of this exciting day.
The “Our Winning Shot” clinic is made possible through a partnership between the City, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Scotiabank, University Health Network and Michael Garron Hospital. Fully booked with 25,000 appointments, Toronto Vaccine Day has more than doubled the current Canadian record for most people vaccinated at a one-day clinic and is on track to potentially set a new North America-wide single-day clinic record.
Clinic details
“Our Winning Shot” clinic details are available on the City’s COVID-19: How to Get Vaccinated webpage. For updates, including entry information, people with confirmed bookings should check the webpage regularly.
Booking
All 25,000 appointments for the Toronto Vaccine Day “Our Winning Shot” clinic have now been booked through the provincial vaccine booking system. Appointments may open as people change existing appointments.
While Toronto Vaccine Day appointments are full, COVID-19 vaccination appointments at City-operated clinics remain available to all people age 12 and older to book first dose appointments. Second dose appointments can be booked by adults who received a first Pfizer or Moderna vaccine dose prior to May 30 or AstraZeneca on or before May 1. Appointments can be booked by residents through the dark blue “Book a Vaccine” button on toronto.ca/covid-19 or by calling the provincial vaccine booking line.
Vaccine
The clinic will be administering primarily the Moderna vaccine, with very limited Pfizer doses reserved for youth ages 12 to 17 with confirmed appointments. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are incredibly similar with near identical efficacy rates. The “mixed mRNA model” (mixing Pfizer and Moderna for first and second dose) as well as a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine followed by a second dose mRNA vaccine is approved by both the federal and provincial governments.
More than 30 per cent of Torontonians now have their second dose of vaccine. Getting a second dose is vital in Toronto’s fight against COVID-19 and the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) that is more infectious than other strains of the virus. Recent studies have shown that two weeks after the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, a person’s protection against the Delta variant is 50 per cent higher than one dose alone.
To easily connect to resources including vaccine appointment bookings, information on vaccines and upcoming telephone town halls, Toronto residents can text “VACCINE” to 1-833-750-0888 or 833-750-0888 for more information. Torontonians can now also get information about the Toronto Vaccine Day clinic from the vaccine text line by texting SHOT to 1-833-750-0888.
Transportation
The TTC will be offering free rides to and from booked appointments at any vaccination clinic in Toronto. Metrolinx is offering free rides to Union Station and the Scotiabank Arena vaccine clinic and back home again on GO Transit or the UP Express. Riders taking transit will be asked to show proof of booking on the trip to their appointment and the confirmation of their shot will be their return ticket. Employees and volunteers are also eligible for free trips when they show employee or volunteer identification.
Additional bike racks are being added for anyone cycling to the clinic.
Free parking is available to clinic visitors with proof of vaccination at the following locations:
There will be a drop-off area directly in front of Scotiabank Arena for any with accessibility needs.
Accessibility
Staff and volunteers on site at the clinic will be prepared to support accessibility needs. An accessible clinic space will be available and accessible through a separate lineup area at Gate 6. Anyone requiring assistance is asked to alert a staff member upon arrival or at any time while at the clinic.
People needing to attend the clinic with a care provider or service animal will be accommodated. Privacy rooms will also be available upon request.
Translation
Community ambassadors, clinic staff and volunteers speak many different languages and may be able to support communication needs for those who need interpretation. Those being vaccinated at the clinic can bring one support person to help with translation.
Amenities
There are washrooms available at the clinic. There will be no food or drink options, other than water fountains, available. Please eat before arriving at the clinic.
Media
The Toronto Vaccine Day team is finalizing details for a media walkthrough of the “Our Winning Shot” clinic and access to spokespeople. Details will be shared by the City later today via media advisory.
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.