Team Toronto has hit another milestone in its COVID-19 vaccination campaign, administering more than 6.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
This latest vaccination milestone comes as Team Toronto continues to work non-stop to help residents across Toronto get vaccinated.
As of Thursday, 89 per cent of residents five years old and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while 85.2 per cent have received two doses.
Third or “booster” doses continue to be delivered, with 64.2 per cent of eligible residents 18 years of age and older having received three doses of COVID-19 vaccine, including 82 per cent of those age 70 and older. These impressive totals are the result of tireless efforts by Team Toronto and Toronto Public Health to help older residents to get vaccinated with their third dose and bring COVID-19 vaccines to where people live, work and play.
Three doses of vaccine provide further protection against COVID-19 and its more transmissible variants such as Omicron variant, and reduce the risk of severe illness, complication or death due to COVID-19. Recent Toronto data shows that among those age 60 years of age and older, individuals with only two doses of the vaccine have double the risk of hospitalization and ICU admission, than those who received at least three doses of the vaccine.
The City’s VaxTO campaign continues to reach out directly to older residents to encourage them to get their third COVID-19 vaccine dose. Recent initiatives includes using live agents to connect with individuals directly to address a variety of vaccine hesitancy and accessibility concerns, and other barriers to vaccination. Since the start of the campaign, the VAXTO initiative has helped connect millions of residents with COVID-19 vaccination information and resources through a variety of targeted, multilingual outreach method, through broadcast voice messages, texts, targeted digital ads and town halls.
Vax And Read is in full swing through the weekend until Wednesday, March 16, bringing COVID-19 vaccine clinics to 12 Toronto Public Library branches across the city. The clinics operate on a walk-in basis; no registration is required. Clinics are offering first, second, third and paediatric COVID-19 vaccine doses. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are available. A full list of clinic locations and hours can be found on the City’s COVID-19: Pop-Up Immunization Clinics webpage.
As Mayor John Tory announced yesterday, more than 70 COVID-19 vaccine clinics will be taking place over March Break, as Team Toronto’s hyper-local, equity-focused vaccination strategy continues to expand the number of mobile clinics. During March Break, Team Toronto will bring vaccines to convenient locations including camps, schools, libraries and Union Station. A full list of March Break clinics can be found in Thursday’s announcement.
COVID-19 vaccines are available through hospital partner clinics, primary care offices and over 525 pharmacies across the city. All five City-run clinics also continue to offer first, second, third and paediatric doses – by walk-in or appointment – including third doses for residents age 12 to 17. Appointments can be booked online on the provincial booking system or by calling 1-833-943-3900. Vaccines are also available at mobile clinics in the city. Find a clinic using the Mobile COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics in Toronto tool.
Quotes:
“Team Toronto has now delivered more than 6.8 million COVID-19 vaccine doses in less than 15 months. I want to thank everyone on Team Toronto who are continuing to work on these vaccination efforts, including in the more than 70 clinics planned during March Break. Thank you as well to the millions of Toronto residents who have stepped forward to get vaccinated to help protect themselves, their loved ones and their city. We are continuing this world-leading vaccination effort non-stop because we know this is the best way to protect the progress we have made confronting COVID-19 and the only way we can keep safely reopening. If you’re not vaccinated yet, please get vaccinated so we can all move past this pandemic and make sure Toronto comes back stronger than ever.”
– Mayor John Tory
“Toronto is a world leader in COVID-19 vaccination rates and we continue to reach milestones in our campaign. Reaching 6.8 million doses administered – and more than 82 per cent of residents 70 years of age and older with three doses – is another accomplishment for Team Toronto to be proud of. Thank you to every resident who is helping to protect themselves, their loved ones and our city by getting vaccinated. Our work continues.”
– Councillor Joe Cressy (Spadina-Fort York), Chair of the Toronto Board of Health
“We continue to make significant progress to vaccinate as many residents as possible, to ensure they are protected from COVID-19. Thank you to Team Toronto partners and my staff at Toronto Public Health who have worked hard throughout the pandemic to administer 6.8 million vaccine doses in the city’s largest vaccination campaign in its history, and thank you to residents who have rolled up their sleeves to protect themselves, their loved ones and their city.”
– Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s 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.