Library staff to help as Toronto pushes to get seniors 80-plus signed up for COVID-19 vaccine

Parrysound.com
March 23, 2021

Toronto Public Library staff plan to call 35,000 seniors to help sign them up for their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as the city’s drive to immunize focuses on reaching out to its older residents.

Mayor John Tory told a public briefing Monday that library staff would be reaching out to seniors who are library cardholders and providing more information on how to book appointments, starting with 10,000 residents aged 80 and over, and then 25,000 between the age of 70 and 79.

“We are doing everything we can to get as many shots in arms as possible as soon as possible, supply permitted,” said Tory.

Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) is also working to vaccinate its senior residents. As of Friday, TCHC had held vaccination clinics in 23 seniors buildings with five more planned this week. Of the door-to-door vaccines offered, about 70 per cent accepted the shot, Tory said.

The city has also offered funding to seniors-focused groups, including culturally specific organizations, to help reach their clientele about vaccinations.

According to Toronto Public Health, as of Sunday, 68,360 Toronto residents aged 80 and older had received at least one dose of COVID-19 -- nearly 50 per cent of that age group.

That number included those vaccinated in long-term-care homes and other congregate settings, but does not include those vaccinated Monday.

Toronto Public Health said as of Sunday there were almost 25,000 additional appointments for seniors 80 and older booked at three city-run sites. If all those seniors are vaccinated, the total vaccinated would be closer to 68 per cent.

Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s medical officer of health, said the city is aiming to vaccinate at least 70 per cent of the population to achieve what’s called herd immunity -- greater protection for all, including those who aren’t able to receive the vaccine by ensuring a critical mass of residents are immune.

“The higher we can get that coverage rate, the better it is for all of us,” she said.

Coun. Josh Matlow (Ward 12 Toronto-St. Paul’s), who has advocated for better senior care and mobile clinics, said he’d like to see even more done to reach seniors. He said Tory has been supportive of these new ideas.

“We should not be waiting for seniors to come to us to be vaccinated,” said Matlow. He said the city registers seniors for sidewalk snow clearing, recreation activities and more, and those lists could also be leveraged to reach more people.

Those with cognitive or mobility challenges may have more difficulties finding their way through the large city sites like the one at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Matlow added. City officials on Monday acknowledged lineups outside several sites and long wait times they said they were working to resolve.

“It’s so important for those very reasons to make it as easy as possible for every senior to be able to get vaccinated as soon as possible,” Matlow said.

The city also announced a tenth major clinic site, in the Thorncliffe Park area at the East Toronto Community Centre in partnership with the East Toronto Health Partners and the Ontario Health Team serving East Toronto. The site opens Wednesday and for now will vaccinate those aged 75 years and older.

As of Monday morning, 302,498 people -- including non-Toronto residents who work in the city -- had received at least one dose, with the rate of vaccination soaring this month as additional supply became available from the federal government.

Booking can be made at all open city clinics by visiting https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ or at 1-888-999-6488 (TTY 1-866-797-0007).

Health-care partners offering appointments can be accessed directly by visiting https://vaccineto.ca.

Those aged 60 and over can connect with participating pharmacies at https://covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations.