Toronto Public Health prepares to vaccinate Toronto children 5 to 11 years of age against COVID-19
TORONTO, ON, Sept. 27, 2021 – Toronto Public Health (TPH) officials say they are getting ready to vaccinate Toronto children 5 to 11 years of age against COVID-19. TPH have formed a COVID-19 Vaccination Planning Group to prepare to vaccinate children from, 5 to 11, upon Health Canada approval and receipt of vaccine for this age group from Ontario’s Ministry of Health. This group includes health partners, school boards, community representatives and the Ministry of Health. In Toronto, there are approximately 200,000 children aged 5 to 11 who are eligible to get vaccinated.
“Vaccination plays an incredibly important role in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting our community so that children can participate in activities that benefit their health and well-being as safely as possible,” said Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health. “My team at Toronto Public Health is pleased to be working with our partners to prepare to vaccinate children between the ages of five and 11 as soon as vaccines are approved for this age group,” said Dr. de Villa.
In Canada, the Government of Canada is responsible for obtaining the supply of COVID-19 vaccines; the Ontario Ministry of Health has responsibility for distributing the vaccines and administering them to priority groups established under the Province’s framework. TPH is responsible for supporting the administration of the vaccine in accordance with provincial prioritization and scheduling frameworks as vaccines are provided by the Province. Recommendations for COVID-19 vaccine administration is provided by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization. TPH will inform the public on the vaccination plans for this age group upon vaccine approval by Health Canada and subject to guidance issued by the provincial government.
“We continue to do everything we can as a City government to fight COVID-19 and save lives. Toronto Public Health has formed this Vaccination Planning Group so that our city will be ready to help children get vaccinated as quickly as possible following the necessary approvals from Health Canada. This will help keep our kids safe and provide greater protection in our schools and communities across the city.”– Mayor John Tory
Providing vaccinations for all who are eligible, including children and youth, will help reduce the number of COVID-19 cases in our community and allow children to participate in activities that benefit their health and well-being. The COVID-19 vaccine is the best protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death. Recent local data shows that individuals who have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have an eleven times lower risk of hospitalization and twenty-five times lower risk of being admitted to an ICU compared to those who are incompletely vaccinated, or unvaccinated.
The City and its Team Toronto partners continue supporting convenient ways for all residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccination reduces community spread of COVID-19 as the virus and the more infectious Delta variant continue to circulate in Toronto. Receiving two doses of the vaccine will help protect residents from severe illness and outcomes, and protect our young children, friends, families and other loved ones.
Read more information on how and where to get vaccinated.
SOURCE City of Toronto
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