More than 6,100 five to 11 year olds received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose at Toronto’s five City-run COVID-19 vaccination clinics in the first three days of the Team Toronto Kids COVID-19 vaccination campaign.
In addition to the 6,134 doses administered at City-run clinics from November 25 to November 27, children were also vaccinated through the broader Team Toronto network of vaccination clinics including fixed clinics run by hospitals, Ontario Health teams, community health centres and more than 110 primary care providers and pediatricians. More than 240 pharmacies also currently have pediatric doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine available, with more coming on line. A full update on all vaccines administered to all residents in this age category will be provided Tuesday.
To date, nearly 50,000 appointments have been made available for children aged five to 11 from November 25 to December 11 at the five City-run immunization clinics through the provincial booking system. All appointments available from November 25, the day the clinics opened to this age group, until end of day Sunday, November 28 are fully booked. Additional appointments are still available at all five City-run immunization clinics next week and between December 7 and December 11.
To meet increased demand, more appointments have been opened in the City-run clinics for the week of December 14 and the week of December 21 in the provincial booking system. For those two weeks, an additional 9,690 appointments will be available for 5 to 11 year olds. During that time, there will also be 28,266 appointments in the City-run clinics available for individuals 12+ looking for first, second and third doses.
Appointments for City-run immunization clinics can be booked by Toronto residents by visiting the City’s COVID-19: How to Get Vaccinated webpage. Click the blue button on the webpage or call the provincial vaccine booking line at 1-833-943-3900. Appointments will continue to be added in the near future, as the vaccination campaign progresses and additional supply is confirmed and received.
On November 25, three school-based pilot clinics were held by Team Toronto partners. School-based clinics are a key component of the Team Toronto five to 11 year-old vaccination strategy. Hundreds of school mobile clinics will be held over the coming weeks.
Toronto Public Health (TPH) encourages all parents and guardians to book a first dose appointment for children five to 11 years old if they have not already done so. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine will lower the risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death, while preserving in-person learning and activities as people move indoors during the colder months. If parents and guardians have questions or concerns about the vaccine, TPH encourages them to seek information from trusted health professionals and credible sources. More information can be found on the City’s COVID-19: Children & Vaccines page.
Quotes:
“Our Team Toronto Kids COVID-19 vaccination plan is off to a busy and successful start. Thank you to the families who have helped their kids get vaccinated at our City-run vaccine clinics in the first few days of the campaign. Thank you as well to everyone working in all the Team Toronto clinics across Toronto this weekend to help people get vaccinated.”
– Mayor John Tory
“Team Toronto Kids – the largest youth vaccine campaign in our country’s history – is underway. Across our city – in schools and doctors offices, City-run clinic and pharmacies – kids are stepping up to protect themselves and our city. After the difficult two years we’ve been through, it’s both emotional and uplifting to see the relief on parents and kids faces at our clinics. Now, after a strong start, we just need to keep working to get our kids and our city vaccinated.”
– Councillor Joe Cressy (Spadina-Fort York), Chair of the Toronto Board of Health
“What an encouraging accomplishment for our city. So many five to 11 year old heroes are stepping up to protect themselves, their loved ones and our entire community against COVID-19. Sincere thanks to Team Toronto partners for their continued efforts to protect all of us and to help us end this pandemic.”
– 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.