As the holiday season kicks off, Team Toronto is launching its Vax The Holidays campaign to focus on direct community access to COVID-19 vaccines.
Vax The Holidays features mobile and pop-up vaccine clinics that offer first, second and third doses in local shopping malls, community centres, schools and places of worship over the next month.
The community-centred holiday campaign includes clinics open to anyone born in 2009 or earlier and launches with a four-day vaccination push starting today, Wednesday, November 17 to Sunday, November 21. This week, residents can choose from 14 mobile clinics across the city to get their COVID-19 vaccine:
A full list of community-based clinic locations and operating hours can be found on the City’s COVID-19: How to Get Vaccinated webpage.
While continuing the data-driven approach to vaccine clinic locations, Vax The Holidays will be focused on making sure locations are easily accessed and in areas where large groups of people will be over the coming weeks, including busy holiday shopping locations.
Residents eligible for a third (booster) dose include:
City-run clinics at Cloverdale Mall, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Mitchell Field Arena, Scarborough Town Centre and Woodbine Mall also offer first, second and third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as the influenza vaccine. These clinics are by appointment only and can be arranged through the provincial booking system.
A health card is not needed at COVID-19 vaccine clinics, however, individuals must bring some form of identification. Acceptable forms of identification include government-issued ID (including non-Canadian and expired documents) such as a driver’s licence or passport, a piece of mail with your name on it, a pay stub or a student card.
Bringing the vaccine to where people live, work and shop has resulted in the city reaching a milestone this week of 5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered. Toronto’s first dose of vaccine was administered on December 14, 2020. Currently, more than 85 per cent of eligible Toronto residents are fully vaccinated.
Toronto Public Health continues to invite requests for mobile vaccination clinics at neighbourhood, workplace, community events, or other locations to provide COVID-19 vaccinations. An online request form can be used to make the request.
Quotes:
“We know when vaccine clinics are easy for people to access and in areas where they are shopping or running errands, they will get vaccinated. Vax The Holidays is one more way we are working to highlight these very local clinics in areas where we are working to drive up vaccination rates. We want anyone who is eligible for their first, second or third dose of vaccine to find a location near them and get protected before the holidays and the winter comes. Thank you to Team Toronto for hosting these highly accessible clinics and to our community partners for promoting them in their neighbourhoods.”
– Mayor John Tory
“Community centres bring people together – that’s why they are the perfect place to get vaccinated. Along with malls, schools and other locations, community centres will be hosting mobile vaccine clinics this week, to administer first, second and third doses of COVID-19 vaccine. It’s all part of our commitment to making sure vaccines are easily accessible, and helping to get Toronto to 90 per cent vaccinated.”
– Councillor Joe Cressy (Spadina-Fort York), Chair, Board of Health
“The work to get people vaccinated as quickly and conveniently as possible continues, thanks to the efforts of Team Toronto who continue to bring COVID-19 vaccines to every part of our city. Thank you all of your tireless work to protect residents and their loved ones against this virus, and helping us to bring an end to this pandemic.”
– 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.