Today, the Team Toronto Kids COVID-19 vaccination campaign began with the first vaccinations of kids aged five to 11.
Thanks to the early arrival of COVID-19 vaccine for children, Toronto Public Health, the Ministry of Health and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) worked together to provide 10 vaccines to SickKids children and families who attended today’s clinic.
This is the first time in Canada that children in this age group have been vaccinated. The vaccinations come ahead of a limited number of youth vaccination appointments on Wednesday and a large number of vaccinations on Thursday.
Ontario Minister of Health Christine Elliott, Toronto Mayor John Tory and Toronto Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa joined SickKids CEO Ronald Cohn at the City of Toronto’s immunization clinic at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to congratulate the first children vaccinated and thank them for stepping up to get their COVID-19 vaccine.
Images from today’s event can be viewed on the City’s website here: https://www.toronto.ca/news/te
Quotes:
“I want to congratulate the kids who were vaccinated for being super heroes and stepping up today. They’re helping show all children across Canada that getting your COVID-19 vaccine is safe and the right thing to do. This is a first in Canada and the start of thousands of kids in Toronto getting the best protection possible against COVID-19 over the coming weeks. Thank you to Toronto Public Health, the Ministry of Health and SickKids for working together to start vaccination as early as possible now that the vaccine for kids is here. These kids have set a great example for their friends and fellow kids. We are encouraging everyone to get vaccinated so that they can be safe, our schools can stay open and we can bring this pandemic to an end.”
– Mayor John Tory
“Today we reached an exciting milestone in Ontario’s vaccine rollout, with the first children in the country receiving a dose of the paediatric COVID-19 vaccine. This remarkable achievement represents a bright light at the end of the tunnel and will help protect children, their families and the progress we have made in the fight against COVID-19. I strongly encourage every parent and caregiver to embrace the opportunity to get their children vaccinated and protected.”
– Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Ontario Minister of Health
“Today was a historic and important event for children and their families across our City and across the country. Vaccine protection against COVID-19 for children, their families and our communities is here. I look forward to the work ahead to support the vaccination of all children with our Team Toronto partners.”
– Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health
“I am proud to take part in this milestone moment, and grateful to the brave superhero children who received their COVID-19 vaccine today. Because of you, and the hard work of all those supporting these vaccination efforts, we are one step closer to putting the pandemic behind us.”
– SickKids CEO Dr. Ronald Cohn
“Team Toronto Kids — the largest youth vaccine campaign in our country’s history — is officially underway. Thanks to Toronto Public Health, the Ministry of Health and SickKids for administering Canada’s first children and youth vaccines this afternoon to patients of SickKids at our City of Toronto clinic. And, thanks to all of the kids who were superheroes today and got vaccinated.”
– Councillor Joe Cressy (Spadina-Fort York), Chair of the Toronto Board of Health
Source City of Toronto
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