Team Toronto Kids is marking another major milestone as 35 per cent of children in Toronto age five to 11 have now received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. This represents more than one in every three children in the city. As of December 13 at 8 a.m., 73,920 first paediatric doses have been administered to kids five to 11 years old since Team Toronto Kids launched late last month.
To build on this progress, Team Toronto and Toronto Public Health (TPH) are continuing to focus the City of Toronto’s efforts on making vaccines available and easily accessible to children and their families. Appointments are available at all five City-run vaccination clinics between now and December 24. Appointments can be made by calling the provincial vaccine booking line at 1-833-943-3900 or through the Province of Ontario’s How to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment webpage
Children age five to 11 can also get vaccinated at fixed clinic sites run by hospitals, Ontario Health teams, community health centres and more than 110 primary care providers and paediatricians, as well as more than 240 pharmacies across the city. More vaccination clinic information is available on the City’s COVID-19: Children & Vaccines webpage.
Team Toronto and TPH also continue to create vaccination opportunities for residents age 12 and older to receive their first and second doses, and third doses for individuals who are eligible. As of December 13 at 8 a.m., 86.1 per cent of Toronto residents age 12 and older have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and 88.8 per cent have initiated their vaccinations series by getting one dose. The latest vaccine data is available on the City’s COVID-19: Vaccine Data webpage
Yesterday, more than 100,000 appointments were made available by the City through the provincial booking system for eligible Toronto residents to book their third dose appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine. TPH estimates that approximately 515,000 residents in Toronto are eligible for a third dose. Residents can book their appointment at a City-run immunization clinic through the provincial vaccination portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre. Eligible Torontonians can also get their third dose at over 450 local pharmacies, many doctors’ offices and at other Team Toronto healthcare partner clinics. More information is available on the COVID-19: How to Get Vaccinated webpage
Vaccines have been scientifically proven to lower the risk of serious illness, hospitalization, and death. TPH urges all residents to get vaccinated, if they have not yet done so, as there has been an increase in new COVID-19 cases across the province and in Toronto as well as the emergence of the Omicron variant of concern. Getting vaccinated helps protect individuals, loved ones and the community as the holiday season approaches and people gather more frequently in social setting and for events, particularly indoors during colder weather.
To help reduce virus spread, TPH is urging everyone to continue to wear a mask or face covering while indoors and keep in-person social circles small and limit to vaccinated individuals as much as possible while practicing physical distancing and good hand hygiene. Anyone feeling unwell should remain at home.
Quotes:
“The Team Toronto Kids plan is working to help families get vaccinated as quickly as possible. More than 35 per cent of kids have now had their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and are on their way to being fully vaccinated. Thank you to everyone who is working to help kids get their vaccine and to all the families who have come out to get vaccinated in less than three weeks. Our progress is also continuing helping older residents get vaccinated. More than 86 per cent of residents 12 and older are now fully vaccinated thanks to Team Toronto. If you’re not vaccinated yet, please get vaccinated.”
– Mayor John Tory
In the less than three weeks since our Team Toronto Kids team began vaccinating children in Toronto ages five to 11, we have seen a remarkable uptake of first doses administered with more than one in every three children having now initiated vaccination. This shows the impressive commitment by our youngest residents and their families to protect themselves and our larger community.
– Dr. Na-Koshie Lamptey, Acting Medical Officer of Health
“After a successful weekend, we’ve reached 35 per cent of all Toronto kids age five to 11 with their first dose. Since Team Toronto Kids launched less than three weeks ago, more than 73,000 kids have had their first shot. With tens of thousands of kids already booked for appointments in the weeks ahead, we’re off to a remarkable start. Let’s keep going, Toronto.”
– Councillor Joe Cressy (Spadina-Fort York), Chair of the Toronto Board 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.
Media contact: Media Relations, Toronto Public Health, tphmedia@toronto.ca