The City of Toronto is encouraging more than 753,000 eligible residents to get their booster dose (third dose) of COVID-19 vaccine to combat variants and best protect themselves.
Toronto Public Health (TPH) is hosting many COVID-19 vaccination clinics this week and throughout the long weekend, to help as many residents as possible get their booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. A booster dose is important to prevent or reduce the impact of the current wave of illness from the BA.5 variant, especially among those who are at higher risk for getting very sick.
Data shows that residents with a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine had the lowest rate of hospitalization, compared to residents who were not vaccinated or were under-vaccinated. Right now, approximately 753,600 Torontonians ages 18 and older are eligible for a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Along with delivering booster doses to all eligible residents who come forward, Team Toronto is continuing to provide first and second doses and second booster shots to all eligible residents. Hundreds of residents are receiving their second booster shots every day in the wake of the Province opening up eligibility to all adults 18 and older.
Individuals who are moderately to severely immunocompromised and who are high-risk should get their second booster as soon as possible. Individuals who have been infected with COVID-19 can wait three months before receiving their next dose.
Residents who choose to receive a second booster dose now can also receive a fall booster that is expected to be a new bivalent COVID-19 vaccine approved by Health Canada. It may offer more targeted protection against the Omicron variants.
TPH is offering many opportunities for people to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, partnering with festivals and events to provide pop-up COVID-19 clinics across the city this summer, including at today’s Under the Stars block party and movie event in Regent Park.
COVID-19 pop-up vaccination clinics will be available at the following events this week:
• Under the Stars, Regent Park, 620 Dundas St. E., Wednesday, July 27, 5 to 9 p.m.
• Toronto Caribbean Carnival, Marilyn Bell Park, 1095 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Saturday, July 30, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Ghana Fest Canada, Earl Bales Park, 4169 Bathurst St., Sunday, July 31, noon to 7 p.m.
These clinics are family-friendly and will provide first, second, third, fourth and paediatric COVID-19 doses to eligible residents. Pfizer and Moderna will be available. Clinics operate on a walk-in basis and no appointment or health card is required.
Bringing COVID-19 vaccines to events is part of Team Toronto’s ongoing equity-focused, hyper-local mobile strategy, providing accessible and convenient vaccination opportunities to residents in places where they live, work and play.
The six City-run COVID-19 immunization clinics continue to provide opportunities for vaccination. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are available. A health card is not needed. Summer hours are now in effect to better accommodate Toronto residents’ schedules:
• Metro Hall, 55 John St. and Crossroads Plaza, 2625 Weston Rd., Monday to Thursday, noon to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Cloverdale Mall, 250 The East Mall; Mitchell Field Community Centre, 89 Church Ave.; and 1940 Eglinton Ave. E., Tuesday to Friday, noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Thorncliffe Park Community Hub, 45 Overlea Blvd., Monday to Friday, noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
More information, including location and hours of operation, is available on the City’s COVID-19: Pop-Up Immunization Clinics webpage: www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/c
Residents can also receive their COVID-19 vaccine at City-run immunization clinics, primary care offices and more than 525 pharmacies. Summer hours are now in effect at City-run clinics to accommodate when most Toronto residents can attend. A full list of clinic locations and hours is available on the City’s COVID-19: Where to Get Vaccinated webpage:
www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/c
Pharmacy locations offering COVID-19 vaccines are available on the Province of Ontario website: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/va
TPH is also hosting more than 400 vaccination clinics in schools across Toronto this summer, to provide COVID-19 vaccines and hepatitis B, meningococcal and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. A health card is not required to book an appointment. A COVID-19 vaccination can be received at the same time as, or any time before or after the other vaccinations. Clinic information, including locations and hours of operations, is available on the TPH Appointment Booking System website: www.toronto.ca/community-peopl
All eligible residents are encouraged to get their third and fourth doses as soon as possible. The fourth dose offers further protection to residents who are at higher risk of getting the virus, which can result in serious consequences such as hospitalization, intubation and death.
Quotes:
“The public health advice is clear, vaccines continue to be the best way to protect people against serious health consequences from COVID-19. If you have your first and second dose, please get your third dose as soon as possible to help combat the seventh wave of the pandemic and protect the progress we have made. Thank you to the millions of Torontonians who have already been vaccinated, and to all those who will do so in the coming days and weeks.”
– Mayor John Tory
“Team Toronto’s work is continuing through the summer to help people get the vaccine doses they need and help protect our communities. There are many convenient and accessible ways to get vaccinated this summer, including at pop-up clinics throughout Toronto, City-run immunization clinics, primary care offices and more than 500 pharmacies.”
– Councillor Joe Mihevc (Spadina-Fort York), Chair of the Board of Health
“This is an opportunity people shouldn’t pass up. The third dose is the most effective in preventing illness and hospitalization. It’s an important step for you, your family, friends and co-workers to stop the spread of this illness and prevent lost time from work, school and fun summer activities.”
– Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health
SOURCE City of Toronto
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