News Release
December 16, 2021

As holiday shopping intensifies, Toronto residents can easily get their first, second and third doses of COVID-19 vaccine while out in the community this weekend. Team Toronto’s month-long Vax The Holidays campaign is active for the last full weekend before the holidays from Thursday, December 16 to Sunday, December 19.

Vax The Holidays has featured mobile walk-in vaccine clinics in shopping malls, community centres, schools and places of worship since mid-November. More than 2,400 vaccine doses have been administered thus far in the campaign to people born in 2009 and earlier.

These data-driven mobile clinics are on top of the City-run clinics at Cloverdale Mall, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Mitchell Field Arena, Scarborough Town Centre and Woodbine Mall. These clinics are by appointment only and can be arranged through the provincial booking system.

In addition to City-run clinics, children age five to 11 can get vaccinated at fixed clinic sites run by hospitals, Ontario Health teams, community health centres, at more than 110 primary care providers and paediatricians, and 240 pharmacies across the city. As well, 15 COVID-19 vaccine clinics are operating December 16, 17 and 18 at Toronto District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Board locations. More vaccination clinic information is available on the City’s COVID-19: Children & Vaccines webpage.

This week, residents can choose from nine Vax The Holidays mobile clinics across the city, operating during various days and times, to get their COVID-19 vaccine.

Walk-in clinics are open at the following malls on Thursday, December 16 and Friday, December 17 from 1 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday, December 18 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

  • Lawrence Allen Centre
  • Stockyards Village
  • Yonge Sheppard Centre

Walk-in clinics are also open at the following community settings:

  • Broadlands Community Centre – Thursday, December 16, 4 to 8 p.m.
  • Canoe Landing Community Centre – Thursday, December 16, 4 to 8 p.m.
  • Elmbank Community Centre – Sunday, December 19, 12:30 to 6:30 p.m.
  • Oriole Community Centre – Thursday, December 16, 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.
  • St. Alban’s Club – Thursday, December 16, 3 to 7 p.m.
  • Thistletown Community Centre – Saturday, December 18, 1 to 5 p.m.

A list of community-based clinic locations and operating hours can be found on the City’s COVID-19: How to Get Vaccinated webpage.

Vax The Holidays uses a data-driven approach to vaccine clinic locations and is also focused on locations that are easily accessed and in areas where large groups of people gather, such as busy holiday shopping locations.

Given the emergence of the new Omicron variant and ongoing community transmission of the Delta variant, Toronto Public Health urges eligible residents to book their third-dose appointment as soon as possible, to ensure they have an extra layer of protection as people seek to reconnect over the holidays.

Yesterday, the Province of Ontario expanded eligibility for vital third doses, starting December 20, to anyone 18 years old and older who received their second dose approximately three months ago (84 days). Everyone age 50 and older is now also eligible to receive a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine three months following their second dose, rather than the original six-month waiting period.

Quotes:

“Vax The Holidays is one of many successful initiatives that Team Toronto has led to make it as convenient as possible for people to get vaccinated. It’s been going strong for a month now and every dose administered at every location across the city is a win for us all. I thank all our vaccinators and the community ambassadors and agencies behind the scenes who promote and support these COVID-19 vaccine clinics, as well as residents who make the planned or spontaneous decision to protect themselves and their families by getting a vaccine at their local clinic.”
– Mayor John Tory

“Vaccination remains one of the most important steps we can take to protect ourselves and our community. That’s why our Vax the Holidays campaign will be out again this weekend with mobile clinics to make getting vaccinated convenient and accessible. If you haven’t yet received your first, second, or third dose, please do so as soon as you are eligible.”
– Councillor Joe Cressy (Spadina-Fort York), Chair of the Toronto Board of Health

“Vax The Holidays continues to provide Torontonians with many convenient ways to get the best protection against COVID-19 in time for the holiday season. Getting two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and a third dose when you are eligible, will help protect you and your community. Thank you to our Team Toronto partners for your continued hard work to provide opportunities for residents to get their vaccine at clinics throughout our city, and to residents for continuing to show up to protect our community against this virus.”
– Dr. Na-Koshie Lamptey, Deputy Medical Officer of Health, Toronto Public 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 Relations