Due to further COVID-19 vaccine supply shortages announced by the Government of Canada today, the Province of Ontario has directed the City of Toronto to immediately pause its proof-of-concept Immunization Clinic at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre at the conclusion of today’s appointments.
The Province had originally directed the clinic to pause after January 22 due to vaccine supply.
As requested by the Ministry of Health and the Province of Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force, the City and Toronto Public Health established a proof-of-concept clinic to vaccinate up to 250 people per day. The clinic applied the Province of Ontario’s ethical framework for COVID-19 vaccine prioritization and was to be available to City staff or those working for agencies that work in frontline shelters, including harm-reduction and Streets to Homes staff.
People with scheduled appointments for tomorrow Wednesday, January 20, Thursday, January 21 and Friday, January 22 are being advised now that their appointments are cancelled.
The Government of Canada is responsible for obtaining the supply of COVID-19 vaccines; the Province has responsibility for distributing the vaccines and identifying priority groups established under the Province’s framework; and Toronto is responsible for supporting the administration of the vaccine in accordance with provincial prioritization and scheduling frameworks as vaccines are provided by the Province.
The City’s Immunization Task Force is continuing to plan for city-wide immunization clinic roll-out and will continue to work with the Province to determine next steps once vaccine supply is re-established.
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