Toronto Public Health encourages eligible residents to get their fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible

Following the expanded eligibility for fourth doses announced by the Province of Ontario last week, Team Toronto continues to offer residents opportunities to receive their fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as the best protection against serious illness linked to COVID-19.

As of April 11, more than 40,000 fourth doses have been administered to eligible residents, with more than 34,000 fourth doses provided to residents 60 years of age and older.

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. Residents who received their third dose less than five months ago may call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre (1-833-943-3900) to learn more about fourth dose eligibility. 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/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-vaccine-eligibility-doses/.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) 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.

Team Toronto is also continuing to help eligible residents get their first, second or third dose as well.

Toronto Public Health (TPH) and Team Toronto’s Third Dose Drive is continuing to offer residents 12 years of age and older the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. As part of the initiative, TPH is hosting pop-up clinics in congregate settings and buildings with low vaccination rates and/or high rates of COVID-19 infection, or if the building itself has low vaccination coverage rates among residents 65 years of age and older. TPH is also working closely with local pharmacies to encourage existing eligible pharmacy clients to visit their pharmacy to get their third dose. Team Toronto’s Vax And Ride campaign will also continue to operate over the weekend, bringing a number of vaccine clinics to TTC stations across the city. A full list of clinic locations and hours can be found on the City’s COVID-19: Pop up Immunization Clinics webpage: www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-how-to-get-vaccinated/covid-19-pop-up-immunization-clinics.

Encouraging eligible residents to get their 4th dose as their best protection against COVID-19:
✅60+ (3rd dose 5 months ago)
✅First Nation, Inuit, Métis residents and household members

?Appointment at City-run clinics
?Mobile clinics accept walk-ins
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— John Tory (@JohnTory) April 13, 2022

First, second, third and fourth doses are available by appointment only across the five City of Toronto immunization clinics over the Easter long weekend. 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 Easter vaccine clinics will be announced in the coming days. More information on how to book is available on the City’s COVID-19: How to Get Vaccinated webpage: www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-how-to-get-vaccinated/.

Quotes:

“Our work to help residents get vaccinated against COVID-19 is continuing non-stop. Thank you to Team Toronto for already delivering more than 40,000 fourth doses to eligible Toronto residents. Those residents have done the right thing by getting the protection of a fourth dose. If you are eligible for a fourth dose, please get vaccinated as soon as possible. To anyone in need of a first, second or third vaccine dose, please visit any of our clinics or a pharmacy to get your needed dose and help us protect our progress as a city.”
– Mayor John Tory

“Recent Ontario data show that the more under-vaccinated an individual infected with COVID-19, the more likely they are to require hospitalization. This is why we continue to make every effort to bring COVID-19 vaccines to residents across our city. Vaccines enhance the body’s natural ability to fight infections, and lowers the risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death, while protecting individuals and the wider community from getting sick. Keeping up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines, wearing a well-fitted mask indoors when the vaccination status of others is unknown, and staying at home when you are sick are actions we can take to help protect ourselves and each other against this virus.”
– Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health

“In our second year of this vaccination campaign, Torontonians are continuing to come together to get vaccinated and protect each other. Team Toronto is making excellent progress, having delivered more than 40,000 fourth doses, and more than 1.6 million third doses so far. Now, our work continues to reach every resident, in every part of our city with a first, second, third, and fourth dose, so that everyone can get vaccinated and be protected.”
– Councillor Joe Cressy (Spadina-Fort York), Chair of the Toronto Board of Health

Source City of Toronto