The City of Toronto is encouraging families with children born in 2009 to get vaccinated against COVID-19 at City-run vaccination clinics.
Yesterday, the Province of Ontario announced all youth born in 2009 are now eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccinations immediately. Prior to the announcement, youth were required to be 12 years old prior to receiving their first dose of vaccine.
The nine City-run COVID-19 vaccination clinics are now welcoming all youth born in 2009 for first- and second-dose vaccinations. With students returning to in-person learning in three weeks, Toronto Public Health is urging all eligible youth to initiate COVID-19 vaccination by getting their first dose or complete their vaccination with a vital second dose. Getting both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine is the best defense against the virus, including the Delta variant, and will provide the opportunity for students to return to school as safely as possible.
Everyone born in 2009 or earlier requiring a first or second dose of COVID-19 vaccine can walk in to any City-run clinic. The nine City-run clinics have capacity to vaccinate thousands of walk-ins this week:
City-run immunization clinics continue to vaccinate people who walk in without an appointment from noon to 7 p.m. daily. All nine clinics will be operating for the rest of this week. This Sunday will be the last day of operations the Carmine Stefano Community Centre, Malvern Community Recreation Centre, North Toronto Memorial Community Centre and Toronto Congress Centre clinics as Toronto enters the next phase of its vaccination campaign, focusing on expanded mobile teams.
Information on the many ways to get vaccinated immediately is on the City’s COVID-19: How to Get Vaccinated webpage.
While vaccination progress continues, all people in the city are urged to continue to follow public health measures, including staying home when sick, practising physical distancing and wearing a mask when physical distancing is not possible. Residents who exhibit any COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has had COVID-19 should get tested as soon as possible. Information on how to get tested is on the City’s COVID-19 Testing webpage.
Quotes:
“As back to school approaches, we need to do everything possible to keep Toronto’s children, families and communities safe. I support this move by the Province to expand eligibility to all youth turning 12 this year. The City’s vaccination clinics and our pop-up partners are ready and waiting to vaccinate this new group immediately so they can head back into the classroom with as much protection as possible against COVID-19.”
– Mayor John Tory
“Expanding eligibility to all youth born in 2009 is an informed decision and good news as more people are able to get vaccinated and protected against COVID-19 sooner. With back to school just around the corner, I encourage everyone who is eligible to get fully vaccinated as soon as possible to protect yourself, your loved ones and our communities against COVID-19 and its more transmissible variants.”
– 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.