The Team Toronto Kids COVID-19 vaccination plan is working to help thousands of kids get vaccinated.
In the first full week that Team Toronto began vaccinating children 5 to 11 years old in the city, 32,640 first doses of vaccine have been administered – about 16 per cent of the approximately 200,000 eligible children in Toronto.
Vaccine appointments for kids are still available this week until the week of December 21 at five City of Toronto-run immunization clinics. In addition to these clinics, hospitals, health care partners, school clinics, hundreds of pharmacies and more than 110 primary care providers and paediatricians are also providing COVID-19 vaccinations for children five to 11 years old.
In addition, 2,000 kids will get a chance to be vaccinated at Toronto Kids Vaccine Day on Sunday, December 12, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Scotiabank Arena. The clinic is led by SickKids, University Health Network (UHN), Michael Garron Hospital and Toronto Public Health (TPH), in partnership with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) and Scotiabank. More information on Toronto Kids Vaccine Day can be found in the event launch news release.
Vaccination coverage for Toronto residents 12 years and older also continues to steadily increase, with 85.8 per cent of residents having received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and 89.7 per cent of residents having received at least their first dose.
Residents 12 and older who are still seeking their first or second dose or who are eligible for their third dose can get vaccinated at clinics held across the city by health care partners, pharmacies and mobile and pop-up clinics. Appointments for residents 12 and older at City-run immunization clinics are available for the weeks of December 7, December 14 and 21 through the provincial booking system. Residents can find the closest vaccination location to them and hours of operation on the City’s COVID-19 vaccination webpage.
TPH continues to urge residents to get vaccinated if they have not already done so. The COVID-19 vaccine has been scientifically proven to lower the risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death, while protecting oneself, loved ones and the community from getting sick. Residents are also urged to continue following public health measures such as mask wearing, good hand hygiene, physical distancing and staying at home if they are sick. Residents who are eligible for a third dose, are asked to please book an appointment today to ensure they have an extra layer of protection from COVID-19, as the city heads into the colder months. Residents can check to find out if they are eligible for the booster shot on the City’s COVID-19: How to Get Vaccinated webpage.
Quotes:
“The Team Toronto Kids COVID-19 vaccination plan has already successfully helped thousands of families get vaccinated. These kids are superheroes who are helping their city bring this pandemic to an end by getting the best protection possible against COVID-19 and its variants. The fact that 16 per cent of kids in Toronto have already been vaccinated in just one week is a sign of tremendous progress. I continue to encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible.”
– Mayor John Tory
“In just one week, Team Toronto has vaccinated 16 per cent of five- to 11-year-olds in our city with their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. With tens of thousands of kids already booked for shots in the weeks ahead – and with our Scotiabank Arena clinic coming up on December 12 – we’re off to a great start. Keep going, Toronto.”
– Councillor Joe Cressy (Spadina-Fort York), Chair of the Toronto Board of Health
“We continue to be very encouraged by the incredible number of children in Toronto getting vaccinated each and every day. More than 32,000 first doses have been given out to our brave superheroes and I want to thank them and their families for taking the time to get their vaccine to protect themselves, their loved ones, and the community. We are making sure that we do our part by making as many appointments available for this group and all Toronto residents between now and December 24 at clinics across the city.”
– 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.