Today at 11 a.m., the City of Toronto opened three City-operated COVID-19 vaccination clinics to vaccinate eligible residents born in 1941 or earlier who have confirmed appointments. All three clinics – Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Scarborough Town Centre and Toronto Congress Centre – are booked to capacity today and expected to vaccinate 450 eligible seniors per location.
The opening of the three City-run mass immunization clinics is a crucial part of the City and Toronto Public Health’s work to protect the health of Torontonians and fight the spread of COVID-19. Prior to opening, Mayor John Tory toured the Scarborough Town Centre clinic site with Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa, Chair of the Toronto Board of Health Councillor Joe Cressy (Spadina-Fort York) and Fire Chief and General Manager of the Office of Emergency Management Matthew Pegg.
The three City-operated clinics operate seven days per week from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. This week, each clinic has teams of up to ten immunizers at a time working to vaccinate five people per hour per team – a goal based on Toronto Public Health’s annual flu vaccination clinic experience. Each clinic has capacity to vaccinate 2,250 people in the first five days of opening.
The three open City-operated mass immunization clinics are part of a vaccination network that includes six additional City-operated clinics opening soon and hundreds of clinics operated by health sector partners including hospitals and pharmacies. On Monday, March 29, City-operated vaccination clinics at Malvern Community Recreation Centre and Mitchell Field Community Centre will open to eligible seniors with confirmed appointments. A sixth clinic at The Hangar will open on Monday, April 5. As clinics open, anyone who arrives at a clinic without a confirmed appointment will not be vaccinated.
The online registration system for Toronto residents born in 1941 and earlier to book COVID-19 vaccination appointments at City-operated clinics is live on toronto.ca/covid-19. Eligible seniors age 80 and older 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.
As Toronto awaits the rollout of mass immunization, to reduce and eliminate the transmission of COVID-19, protect the healthcare system and save lives, 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:
“These sites are part of our Team Toronto approach to getting everyone vaccinated along with the clinics operated by our hospitals, our healthcare partners, our pharmacies, and our mobile clinics. We started planning for the vaccine rollout before a vaccine was even approved because we know just how important this effort – the largest immunization effort in our city’s history will be to ending this pandemic. We won’t stop until every Toronto resident who wants to be vaccinated is vaccinated. That will rely on a large and steady vaccine supply from the other governments going forward. I’m confident that the vaccine will come and we will get all the vaccine we need because the province and the Government of Canada know the importance of getting our population safely vaccinated and getting Toronto – the economic engine of Canada – firing on all cylinders again.”
– Mayor John Tory
“The opening of three of Toronto’s mass immunization clinics is a positive and encouraging development. Thank you to staff across Toronto Public Health and the City for working tirelessly to make these clinics a reality. I urge every Toronto resident to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible. If you have a parent, relative, friend or neighbour over 80 years of age, please check in on them. Reach out to find out if they need help making arrangements for their vaccine, or help to get to their appointment.”
– Dr. Eileen de Villa, Medical Officer of Health
“With the official opening of the first three of our City’s mass immunization clinics, we’re one step closer to ensuring that every Torontonian has access to a COVID-19 vaccine. I want to thank all the staff at the City of Toronto and Toronto Public Health who have been working around the clock to make this day happen, and all our partners in the hospital, health care, and community services sector. This is a Team Toronto effort that is built on partnerships and a shared commitment to getting vaccines to our most vulnerable, as quickly as possible.”
– Councillor Joe Cressy (Spadina-Fort York), Chair of the Board of Health
“We have long anticipated this exciting day as the first three of the City’s mass immunization clinics get underway. The vaccines administered in these clinics and those to follow are an important part of our fight against COVID-19.”
– Chief Matthew Pegg, General Manager of the Office of Emergency Management
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.