Today, Mayor John Tory was joined by Councillor Joe Cressy, Chair of the Toronto Board of Health, to unveil a new illuminated Team Toronto pink bandage that has temporarily been added to the Toronto Sign at Nathan Phillips Square.
The pink bandage has been the emblem of the City’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign since last January when the City began to roll out its vaccination plans. The emblem has appeared in all City advertising, in communications materials, on signage and stickers handed out at City-run vaccination clinics and has symbolized the efforts to promote and encourage vaccination against COVID-19.
With Health Canada’s approval of the vaccine for kids aged five to 11, adding the pink bandage to the Toronto sign is intended to encourage parents and caregivers to vaccinate their kids, as well as encourage all those who are eligible for their first, second and booster doses to take that next step.
Third dose vaccinations are currently available in Ontario to those age 70 and older and those who may be at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. More information on third dose eligibility, visit the City’s COVID-19: How to Get Vaccinated webpage.
Starting Monday, December 13, at 8 a.m., the Province will expand eligibility for a third dose to individuals aged 50 and over who received their second dose approximately six months ago.
Parents and caregivers of children aged five to 11 have a number of locations and vaccination opportunities across the city including fixed clinics run by hospitals, Ontario Health teams, community health centres, primary care providers and pediatricians, and at pharmacies. As part of the Team Toronto Kids COVID-19 vaccination plan to help children aged five to 11 get vaccinated, Toronto Public Health and Team Toronto are also operating 49 school-based clinics this week.
This Sunday, December 12 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Team Toronto will be hosting Toronto Kids Vaccine Day at Scotiabank Arena for five- to 11-year-olds. All aspects of Toronto Kids Vaccine Day are aimed at making young people and caregivers feel safe and relaxed as they get their COVID-19 vaccine. Appointments are still available for five- to 11-year-olds who want to take part. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to book appointments as soon as possible. Appointments can easily be made by calling the provincial vaccine booking line at 1-833-943-3900 or through the provincial website.
More information about Toronto Kids Vaccine Day is available on the City’s COVID-19: Children & Vaccines webpage.
Quotes:
“Adding the pink bandage, the symbol of the City’s vaccination campaign, to the iconic Toronto Sign will signal brightly our commitment to helping everyone access COVID-19 vaccinations. I encourage everyone to take advantage of the many opportunities to become fully vaccinated.”
– Mayor John Tory
“We continue to see great progress in reaching our goal of 90 per cent of eligible residents age 12 and older to be fully vaccinated. Now with third doses available to those eligible and vaccinations available for kids age five to 11, we hope our pink bandage encourages even more people to take that next step in helping to protect themselves and our community.”
– Councillor Joe Cressy (Spadina Fort York), Chair of the Toronto Board of Health
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