29% Of Toronto Kids 5 to 11 Have Received One Dose Of COVID-19 Vaccine

The Team Toronto Kids COVID-19 Vaccination Plan has now helped 29 per cent of Toronto children age five to 11 get their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

As of December 9 at 8 a.m., 67,300 paediatric doses have been administered to kids five to 11 years old in the first two weeks since Team Toronto Kids kicked off. Team Toronto and Toronto Public Health (TPH) are continuing to make vaccines for five- to 11-year-olds as accessible as possible for the city’s youngest residents and their families.

Team Toronto Kids is hosting Toronto Kids Vaccine Day at Scotiabank Arena this weekend on Sunday, December 12 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and appointments are still available. The clinic will feature entertainment by KiSS 92.5’s DJ Clymaxxx and CityTV Breakfast Television host Devo Brown and will be superhero themed, with giveaways sponsored by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment including basketball and hockey tickets. The clinic will have child-friendly branding and be attended by Carlton the Bear, The Raptor, Stripes and Duke the Dog, PAW Patrol characters Chase and Skye, Toronto’s first responder mascot Sparky the Fire Dog, with support dogs on-site to help children and families feel comfortable throughout the vaccination process.

“In just two weeks, Team Toronto Kids has helped more than 29 per cent of kids across our city get their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. This is a super start that ensures more than 67,000 kids are on their way to getting fully vaccinated. Thank you to all the kids who have already received their vaccine – you’re superheroes who are helping protect yourself, your family, your school, and your city. If you’re not vaccinated yet, please get vaccinated to get the best protection possible against COVID-19.” – Mayor John Tory

There are also appointments available at all five City-run vaccination clinics between now and December 24. 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 pediatricians, as well as more than 240 pharmacies across the city.

Appointments can be made for Toronto Kids Vaccine Day or City-run clinics 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.

“Team Toronto Kids has administered over 65,000 doses in just two weeks, providing protection to 29 per cent of Toronto residents between five to 11 years old and our community. Thank you to all our healthcare partners and my team at Toronto Public Health who have been tirelessly working during this campaign to ensure our superheroes are protected and to all the residents who have stepped up to get themselves and their loved ones vaccinated.”– Dr. Na-koshie Lamptey, Acting Medical Officer of Health

As of December 9, there have been 146 school-based vaccination clinics held by Team Toronto Kids and Team Toronto to provide vaccines to five- to 11-year-olds in the neighbourhood-focused strategy, as part of its data-driven and needs-based approach. While it is still early in the vaccination campaign, preliminary data has shown that there have been some positive outcomes for neighbourhoods that were selected as areas of focus, including Taylor Massey, which currently has an uptake rate of 25 per cent for its younger residents in just two weeks. TPH will continue to closely monitor vaccination uptake across all age cohorts and neighbourhoods while adjusting its campaign and strategy, using the latest data and information available.

Team Toronto and TPH also continue to remove barriers to provide first and second doses to residents age 12 and older, and third doses for eligible residents. As of December 9 at 8 a.m., 85.9 per cent of Toronto residents age 12 and older have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and 88.7 per cent have initiated their vaccinations series by getting one dose.

The City of Toronto is also preparing to provide third doses to approximately 515,000 Toronto residents who will be newly eligible effective Monday, December 13. Starting Monday at 8 a.m., residents will be able to book their appointment at a city-run immunization clinic to receive their third dose through the provincial vaccination portal (https://covid19.ontariohealth.ca/ ) or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900. Eligible Torontonians can also get their third dose at over 450 local pharmacies, many doctors’ offices and at other Team Toronto healthcare partner clinics. Further information on eligibility is available here.

The latest vaccine data is available on the City’s COVID-19: Vaccine Data webpage.

“Vaccinating 29 per cent of kids five to 11 years old in just two weeks is an incredible Team Toronto accomplishment. While this is great progress, our work continues. Through our equity-focused, multi-pronged clinic approach that includes our City-run clinics, school-based clinics, doctors’ offices, and pharmacies, our priority is making sure that getting vaccinated is accessible for every family.” – Councillor Joe Cressy (Spadina-Fort York), Chair of the Toronto Board of Health

TPH continues to urge all residents to get vaccinated, if they have not already done so, given the increase in new cases across Ontario and the emergence of the Omicron variant. Vaccines have been scientifically proven to lower the risk of serious illness, hospitalization, and death. Getting vaccinated will help protect yourself, loved ones and your community as the holiday season approaches and people seek to connect with one another. Continue to mask while indoors, and keep your in-person social circle small and limit to vaccinated individuals as much as possible while practicing physical distancing and good hand hygiene. If you are feeling unwell, stay at home.