This Victoria Day long weekend, the City of Toronto is encouraging all residents to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
With all Toronto residents 18 and older now eligible to get vaccinated, the City has added appointments throughout the long weekend at its network of City-run immunization clinics. During this Long Weekend Dose Drive, the City has the capacity to vaccinate 56,160 people. More than 11,000 appointments remain available between today and Monday in the provincial vaccine booking system.
To help spread the word, starting today nearly 150,000 broadcast voice message calls from Mayor John Tory will be sent to Torontonians in priority neighbourhoods to encourage them to book their first dose appointments and get vaccinated this weekend. The priority postal codes that will be targeted, based on public health advice, are: M9R, M9W, M9V, M9L, M9M, M3N, M3L, M3J, M3M, M3K, M6A, M6L, M9N, M6N, M6M, M6E, M2R. M2N.
The Province of Ontario has said vaccination coverage is a key consideration within their COVID-19 reopening plan timelines. While Toronto has surpassed 60 per cent vaccine coverage, there is a need to continue this momentum as reopening begins.
All Torontonians age 18 and older are encouraged to book a vaccination appointment as soon as possible. Appointments are for first vaccine doses only. Appointments can be booked through the dark blue “Book a Vaccine” button on toronto.ca/covid-19 or by calling the provincial vaccine booking line at 1-833-943-3900. When booking online, people are encouraged to input “Toronto” as their location at the scheduling stage to see the full list of clinics. To find the soonest appointment, click through the list of clinics with availability. Generally, clinics at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto Congress Centre, The Hangar and Cloverdale Mall have the greatest appointment availability.
As Team Toronto works to vaccinate people as quickly as possible, anyone with an upcoming appointment booked in the coming weeks can reschedule their appointment to this weekend. First dose appointments scheduled through the provincial online vaccine booking system can be rescheduled online through the confirmation email received at the time of booking or by calling the provincial vaccine booking line at 1-833-943-3900 (TTY 1-866-797-0007). Health card and postal code are required to rebook. For appointments booked with a public health unit, pharmacy or hospital, individuals must contact the vaccination partner directly to make any changes.
City-run clinics are part of the Team Toronto vaccination network that includes hundreds of clinics operated by hospitals, pharmacies and other healthcare and community partners. A full list of eligible groups with information on where and how to register for appointments is available on the City’s COVID-19: How to Get Vaccinated webpage. Those seeking a vaccine appointment are also encouraged to register and check availability with healthcare partners through vaccineto.ca/, local pharmacies or healthcare providers.
For the current wave of COVID-19 in Toronto, amplified by variants of concern, staying home and following public health guidance is the best way to keep everyone safe. Please review the City’s COVID-19: Guide for Residents for public health guidance and information on what is and is not permitted under provincial regulations and City bylaws.
Quotes:
“Every adult in our city is eligible to get vaccinated right now so take advantage of the Long Weekend Dose Drive. I want this to be our last long weekend in lockdown. If you’re already vaccinated thank you for doing the right thing – now make sure your family and friends have done it too. If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, please get registered and get your shot. There are appointments available at City-run clinics including throughout this weekend along with pop-up and mobile clinics so please book your shot and get vaccinated.”
– Mayor John Tory
“It’s a beautiful weekend to get Toronto vaccinated! With appointments still available for our Long Weekend Dose Drive at our City-run immunization clinics, I encourage all Torontonians age 18+ who haven’t had a chance to get their first dose yet to book an appointment today. By getting your shot, you’re helping to bring us our entire city one step closer to the day when this pandemic is behind us.”
– 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.