Team Toronto ready to administer COVID-19 vaccines to children ages six months to under five years starting tomorrow

Team Toronto is ready to administer COVID-19 vaccines to children ages six months to under five years, with a needs-based, data-driven, equity-focused vaccination campaign that will be available across Toronto.

Starting Thursday, July 28, COVID-19 vaccines will be offered at five City of Toronto-run immunization clinics: Crossroads Plaza, Cloverdale Mall, Mitchell Field Community Centre, Thorncliffe Park Community Hub and 1940 Eglinton Ave. E.

Parents and caregivers will be able to book appointments at City-run vaccine clinics on the Provincial vaccine registration portal starting at 8 a.m. tomorrow: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ .

Based on expected vaccine supply from the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada, City-run immunization clinics have approximately 2,000 appointments for children ages six months to under five years available during the next two weeks. More appointments will be added in the weeks that follow.

A health card is not needed to get a vaccine at a City-run vaccination clinic.

Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages six months to under five years was approved by Health Canada on July 14. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends that this vaccine may be offered to children of that age group .

Clinical trials with children ages six months to under five years demonstrated that the vaccine is safe and produced a similar antibody response to that seen in young adults.

This vaccination campaign is a city-wide partnership that will continue to grow over the coming weeks and into the fall. In the near future, vaccines will also be available across the city at select Toronto hospitals and through Ontario Health Teams, primary care providers, pediatricians, pharmacies and community organizations. Bookings at these locations will be managed directly by these organizations.

Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect families, communities and individuals against COVID-19. Most children who get infected with COVID-19 have mild or asymptomatic disease; however, some children experience severe disease and require hospitalization. More information, including details which will soon be available on upcoming education sessions, webinars and town halls for parents and primary care providers, can be found by regularly visiting the City’s COVID-19: Vaccines for Children & Youth webpage.

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.