Toronto Public Health (TPH) and Team Toronto partners have now administered fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to 127,681 eligible residents, and approximately 48.5 per cent of residents age 60 and older have now received their fourth vaccine dose. Information about vaccination rates across Toronto continues to be shared on the City’s Vaccine Dashboard: www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/c
On April 7, the Province of Ontario announced that residents age 60 and older, as well as First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members age 18 and over are eligible to receive their fourth dose. These residents, along with individuals who received their third dose less than five months ago, may call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 to learn more about their fourth dose eligibility. As of April 28, based on this criteria, approximately 257,673 Toronto residents 60 years and older are eligible for their fourth vaccine dose.
More residents become eligible every day to receive their fourth dose and Team Toronto is ready to help them get vaccinated. Vaccination clinics – including fixed sites and mobile teams – are continuing to operate across the city seven days a week. Residents can also get their vaccine dose at hundreds of Toronto pharmacies. Of those that are eligible for a fourth dose now and for those who will be eligible in the future around 45 per cent received their third dose at a pharmacy.
TPH continues to encourage residents to stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 immunization, including all booster doses (third and fourth doses) for the best protection against serious illness linked to this virus. Recent data shows residents who kept up-to-date with their vaccinations were better protected against serious consequences linked to the virus, when compared to those who were unvaccinated or under vaccinated. Between December 12, 2021 and April 23, 2022, Ontario residents age 60 and older who had received all booster doses (third and fourth) made up less than two per cent of those hospitalized, when compared to those in the same age group who were less protected.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends third and fourth doses for many people, even if they have had a recent COVID-19 infection, because immunity may wane. To maximize the immune response of the vaccine after a COVID-19 infection, it is recommended that residents wait 12 weeks or three months after they tested positive or their symptoms started. The vaccine is safe after a recent COVID-19 infection.
More information about fourth dose eligibility is available on the City of Toronto’s COVID-19: Vaccine Eligibility & Doses webpage: www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/c
Team Toronto continues to bring vaccination opportunities to communities, making it as convenient as possible for people and their families to get their next eligible vaccine dose. More information on vaccination clinic locations and dates is available on the City’s COVID-19: Pop-Up Immunization Clinics webpage: www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/c
First, second, third and fourth doses are also available by appointment or walk-in across the five City of Toronto immunization clinics. Residents can also get their doses at more than 525 local pharmacies that are offering the COVID-19 vaccine, Indigenous-led vaccination clinics, select primary care offices and other Team Toronto health care partner clinics. Additional locations for Victoria Day long weekend will be announced in the coming weeks. More information is available on the City’s COVID-19: How to Get Vaccinated webpage: www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/c
TPH also continues to add appointments for the Novavax vaccine at City immunization clinics as more supply of this vaccine is received. Appointments for the Novavax vaccine are now available up to Thursday, May 14 at the City’s five immunization clinics. Residents can book their Novavax vaccine appointment at www.TPHbookings.ca or can get an appointment through a referral to TPH by their primary care provider. TPH will contact individuals who are referred by their primary care provider with appointment details. More information is available in a City news release: www.toronto.ca/news/new-novava
As of May 5, more than 7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered as part of TPH and Team Toronto’s vaccination campaign to ensure residents are protected from COVID-19. More than 89.5 per cent of residents five years and older have received the first dose, while 86.2 per cent have gotten two doses. More than 65 per cent of eligible residents 18 years and older have also received their third dose. Vaccination coverage date can be found on the City’s COVID-19: Vaccine Data webpage: www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/c
Great to join @EPDevilla at Metro Hall to highlight a major vaccination milestone: over 7 million doses administered to date!
Encouraging residents to stay up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccination for the best protection. Eligibility and clinic locations: https://t.co/yrYL7j8FWx pic.twitter.com/mIsx689POI
— John Tory (@TorontosMayor) May 5, 2022
Quotes:
“Almost 50 per cent of all eligible Toronto residents have already received their fourth dose. This is great work by Team Toronto. Thank you to every eligible resident who has stepped forward to get the protection of a fourth COVID-19 vaccine. As more residents become eligible in the weeks ahead, we are ready to keep delivering those vaccine doses and continuing our world-leading vaccination efforts and outreach initiatives across the city. If you’re eligible for your fourth dose, please get vaccinated as soon as possible.”
– Mayor John Tory
“By getting their next eligible dose residents are best protected against serious illness and outcome associated to COVID-19 when their vaccinations are up-to-date. Getting vaccinated helps to protect you and others around you from serious illness linked to the virus.”
– Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health
Source City of Toronto
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