Toronto is ready to welcome five to 11 year olds to a child-friendly Team Toronto Kids branded setting at the City’s five vaccination clinics. Experts in children’s health were consulted to help provide a positive vaccination experience for children.
The campaign will use refreshed, cartoon-like “superhero” creative, appealing to children, parents and caregivers that shows that by getting vaccinated, kids are heroes by protecting themselves, their families and their communities. As part of this kid-friendly approach, five to 11 year olds will be greeted with a superhero vaccine clinic “passport” upon their arrival at the City’s vaccination clinics. The Team Toronto Kids vaccine clinic passport includes details on the four clinic stations children will pass through and help them navigate their vaccination experience, and stickers for each station.
Following animal footprints on the floor, at the first station, those being immunized in the clinic can expect to be screened for COVID-19 symptoms and receive a sticker once complete. The second station is where clients will have their appointment confirmed, and consent will be required from parents or guardians, earning another passport sticker. At the third station, clinic clients will then receive the vaccination at a physically-distanced station with a qualified clinician. Following the administration of the vaccine, the person being immunized will receive a sticker and then be directed to an after-care location at the fourth station in the clinic where they will remain for 15 minutes to be monitored for any reactions and receive a sticker. Children will then move to the last station where they can book an appointment to receive their second vaccine dose at least eight weeks after their first dose.
Children will be provided with colouring sheets and other fun items to help create a positive vaccination experience. Residents are encouraged to plan their visit and bring a comfort item to wear to help with their vaccine experience. Team Toronto Kids superhero posters and superhero eye masks are being used to stage clinics. Before exiting, those who have received their vaccine will have the opportunity to take a superhero ‘selfie’ at a branded station to share their experience virtually with friends, family and their communities using the hashtag #MyCOVIDvax.
Parents and guardians seeking to vaccinate their child can also attend a Team Toronto vaccination clinic administered by a Toronto hospital or health care partner. Vaccines for children five to 11 years old will also be available at local pharmacies and through participating family health teams.
Team Toronto also continues to prepare to roll out school-based mobile clinics throughout the city over the course of the five to 11 year-old COVID-19 vaccination campaign once vaccines are available. Parents, caregivers and students will receive clinic information directly from their school when a clinic is available to them.
Starting at 8 a.m. today, 20,000 COVID-19 vaccination appointments for five to 11 year olds between November 25 and December 5 at City-run clinics will be available for booking as part of the Team Toronto Kids COVID-19 vaccination plan.
All Toronto children, regardless of their neighbourhood, will be eligible to book an appointment. Children must be turning five years old by the end of 2021 (born in 2016) to be eligible to book an appointment. Appointments can be booked by visiting the City of Toronto COVID-19 page and clicking the blue button or by calling the provincial vaccine booking line at 1-833-943-3900.
Quotes:
“We want getting the COVID-19 vaccine to be a fun experience for kids. We are using everything from superheroes to stickers to help make sure our young people enjoy their visit to the vaccine clinic. We want kids to be heroes and get vaccinated but we also want to make sure they have fun doing the right thing for themselves and their community.”
– Mayor John Tory
“We’re pleased to welcome children to our Team Toronto Kids branded vaccine clinics so they can get the best protection against COVID-19. In consultation with child life specialists, we’ve added a superhero theme to the clinics to make them kid-friendly in a fun and engaging way. I encourage everyone who is eligible to get their COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible to help protect themselves, their families, friends and community, and help us end this pandemic together.”
– Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health
“Superheroes, selfie stations, stickers, colouring, and more. Team Toronto Kids is ready to launch our positive and engaging vaccine clinic experience for five to 11 year olds. From check-in to check-out, kids will get to follow animal footprints, collect stickers, visit a selfie station, and be treated like superheroes. That’s what our Team Toronto Kids Vaccination Plan is all about — creating an accessible and positive experience for kids and families, so that everyone can do their part to get vaccinated and keep our city safe.”
– Councillor Joe Cressy (Spadina-Fort York), Chair of the Toronto Board of Health
Source City of Toronto
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