Team Toronto’s needs-based, data-driven, equity-focused vaccination campaign will be available starting today across Toronto to administer COVID-19 vaccines to children ages six months to under five years, a news release has said.
“Our work to help all residents get vaccinated and protected against COVID-19 has now reached an important milestone with vaccines now being available for our youngest residents…We have already delivered more than 7.2 million vaccine doses and achieved world-leading vaccination rates…to help our youngest residents get vaccinated,” Toronto Mayor John Tory has said in the news release.
COVID-19 vaccines will be offered at five City of Toronto-run immunization clinics including Crossroads Plaza, Cloverdale Mall, Mitchell Field Community Centre, Thorncliffe Park Community Hub, and 1940 Eglinton Ave. E.
Starting at 8 a.m. today, parents and caregivers will be able to book appointments at City-run vaccine clinics on the Provincial vaccine registration portal: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/.
Approximately 2,000 appointments for children ages six months to under five years from the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada, City-run immunization clinics are available during the next two weeks with more appointments to be added in the weeks that follow.
A health card is not needed to get a vaccine at a City-run vaccination clinic.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends that Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine may be offered to children ages six months to under five years and was subsequently approved by Health Canada on July 14.
The safety of the vaccine was determined by the clinical trials with children ages six months to under five years which produced a similar antibody response to that seen in young adults.
“The seventh wave of COVID-19 is in our community and is impacting residents, including the youngest in our city…now they will have the benefit of this safe and effective vaccine to protect their children,” Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health has said.
A city-wide partnership that will continue to grow over the coming weeks and into the fall, this vaccination campaign would also make vaccines available across the city at select Toronto hospitals and through Ontario Health Teams, primary care providers, pediatricians, pharmacies, and community organizations. These organizations would directly manage bookings at these locations.
For children who have already had COVID-19 infection, NACI suggests waiting eight weeks after the start of symptoms or a positive COVID-19 test, before getting a dose of this vaccine.
In addition, COVID-19 vaccination telephone consultation services from SickKids Hospital and the Scarborough Health Network are also available to parents and caregivers to get answers to their vaccine questions.
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