This week, schools bells are ringing for Vax The East: Scarborough’s hyper-local pop-up vaccination clinics. The in-school COVID-19 vaccination clinics started rolling out on Monday and have now visited 11 Scarborough schools, vaccinating more than 430 people, including more than 240 five to 11-years-olds.
Running until Family Day, Vax The East: Scarborough mobile clinics are visiting four schools today. When complete, Vax The East: Scarborough will have touched down in more than 30 schools to provide easy and convenient access to vaccines for eligible kids and adults across priority east-end neighbourhoods including Bendale, Dorset Park, Eglinton East, Ionview, L’Amoreaux, Malvern, Morningside, Rouge, Scarborough Village, Tam O’Shanter-Sullivan, West Hill, Wexford/Maryvale and Woburn.
Today, students, with parental consent, and school staff are able to get vaccinated during the day – without having to miss recess. After school hours, the clinics are open until 7 p.m. to parents and the wider community. Clinics will also be active this Friday, February 18 during school PA days as well as throughout the weekend and on Family Day. Details on schools hosting clinics, hours and appointments are available on www.scarbvaccine.ca.
All Vax The East pop-up clinics accept walk-ins. The clinics offer both Pfizer and Moderna and health cards are not required for vaccination.
Today, mobile clinics will visit four Scarborough schools:
Vax The East clinics have been designed with children and families in mind, and offer a calm and kid-friendly vaccination experience for children and youth in a safe school setting familiar to kids and families.
To appeal to Toronto’s youngest residents, the clinics feature kid-approved activities including stickers, colouring pages, Scarborough Hospital Heroes activity books and V-Team passports. Young superheroes who get vaccinated will also be awarded a special “certificate of bravery” for their courage.
All clinics offer first, second, third and pediatric doses, including for youth ages 12 to 17. Residents between the ages of 12 and 17 are eligible for a third dose if approximately six months (168 days) have passed since their second dose.
Vax The East: Scarborough is a continuation of Team Toronto’s 10-day hyper-local vaccination drive launched on February 12 to provide more convenience and access to COVID-19 vaccines for Toronto’s east-end residents.
In order to reach as many people as possible, the City’s VaxTO program sent out broadcast voice messages to promote the clinic and provide access to vaccination information to approximately 30,000 local residents earlier this week. Additional outreach is taking place through Team Toronto’s community health centre partners, Vaccine Engagement Teams and community ambassadors who are visiting neighbourhoods across Scarborough to share information about mobile Vax The East clinics within local communities, including clinic information that has been translated to 15 languages.
At the clinics, physicians and nurses are available to answer vaccine-related questions from children and adults alike. The clinics are accessible and accommodations are possible for those who need assistance during their visit. Residents who require help getting to vaccine clinics in Scarborough, can call Scarborough Ride at 416-736-9372 for assistance.
In addition to Vax The East pop-up clinics, there are many other ways to get vaccinated in Scarborough and throughout Toronto, including at City-run immunization clinics. Appointments can be booked online on the provincial booking system or by calling 1-833-943-3900. Starting this February 18 at 8 a.m., residents 12 to 17 years old will be able to book their third-dose appointment at any City-run clinic. All City clinics are accepting walk-ins including for third doses for ages 12 to 17.
More information about vaccination options in Scarborough and across Toronto is available on the City’s COVID-19: How to Get Vaccinated webpage.
Residents are encouraged to follow #VaxTheEast for the latest updates from Vax The East partners and @CityofToronto, the City’s Twitter account.
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