Starting today, Toronto Public Health (TPH) will be welcoming walk-ins for third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for residents ages 12 to 17 at all five City of Toronto-run immunization clinics. Residents ages 12 to 17 years are eligible for a third dose if approximately six months (168 days) have passed since their second dose.
To date, approximately 94 per cent of residents ages 12 to 17 have received at least one dose of vaccine and 90 per cent have gotten two doses. Of the approximately 162,500 residents in this age group who have received two doses of the vaccine, 106,500 are eligible for a third dose starting today.
Starting this Friday, February 18 at 8 a.m., residents ages 12-17 can book an appointment for their third-dose at any City-run vaccination clinics through the provincial online booking system or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Booking Line at 1-833-943-3900 (TTY 1-866-797-0007). While walk-ins are dependent on clinic capacity, appointments for first, second and third doses can still be booked through the provincial booking system.
All five City-run clinics continue to operate Monday to Friday, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for walk-ins and booked appointments:
Over the Family Day weekend, immunization clinics at Scarborough Town Centre and Cloverdale Mall will be open to walk-ins only on Sunday, February 20 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday, February 21 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Immunization clinics at Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Woodbine Mall and Mitchell Field Community Centre will be closed on Sunday and Monday, due to the long weekend.
City-run clinics and Team Toronto partners will offer both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to eligible residents receiving a first, second or third dose. The paediatric dose for residents aged five to 11 years is also available at City-run and Team Toronto clinics. Individuals attending for vaccination cannot be guaranteed a choice between brands of vaccine. Both Pfizer and Moderna brands are mRNA vaccines and have been scientifically proven to protect from serious consequences linked to COVID-19.
First, second, third and paediatric doses are also available at hospital partner clinics, doctors’ offices and more than 525 local pharmacies across the city. More information on where to get vaccinated is available at https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-how-to-get-vaccinated/.
Quotes:
“Team Toronto is working around the clock to make the vaccine available to all residents. Now that third doses have been expanded to include youth ages 12-17, our teams are ready to administer third doses and further protect residents in this city. The vaccine has proven to be our way out of this pandemic, and we know that this is only possible if all of our residents are fully protected with all of their doses. I encourage anyone who is now eligible as part of this new criteria to get their vaccine as soon as possible and to help protect yourself, your loved ones and your community.”
– Mayor John Tory
“Vaccines remain our best protection from serious health consequences due to COVID-19. That is why it is important for everyone to get their first, second, and third dose as soon as they are eligible. With third dose eligibility expanding to include 12- to 17-year-olds, our City-run immunization clinics are welcoming walk-ins for this age group to receive their third dose. By making getting vaccinated more accessible, we’re encouraging everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible.”
– Councillor Joe Cressy (Spadina-Fort York), Chair of the Toronto Board of Health
“Recent data from TPH shows that individuals with three doses of COVID-19 vaccine had the lowest hospitalization, intensive care unit admissions, and deaths over any other level of vaccination throughout the Omicron wave. I am urging all eligible residents to get their third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, if they have not yet done so yet. As we move into the next phase of reopening, the third dose will provide residents with the extra layer of protection from serious consequences linked to COVID-19.”
– Dr. Eileen de Villa, Medical Officer 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.