Toronto launches campaign to reach those not yet vaccinated -- and to start second doses

Thestar.com
May 27, 2021
David Rider

Toronto is launching a multi-pronged campaign to get the last 35 per cent of residents vaccinated against COVID-19, and to start getting second doses into those already partially protected.

“VaxTO” will use texts, emails, voice broadcasts, telephone town halls and multilingual social media posts to unvaccinated Torontonians they need to roll up their sleeves, city officials announced Wednesday.

The campaign got its start over the weekend, Mayor John Tory said, with a robocall to 150,000 homes in COVID-19 hot-spot neighbourhoods “which helped hundreds of people who answered the call,” to book a vaccine appointment.

More than 65 per cent of Torontonians have now received at least a first dose of vaccine. The two millionth dose was administered in the city Tuesday.

But health experts warn that city officials will need to do more than announce open appointments to reach those who have not yet been vaccinated.

Coun. Joe Cressy, chair of Toronto’s public health board, said he believes vaccine information and access -- not people being afraid of vaccination, or opposed to the injections -- is the biggest hurdle to getting as many people protected as possible.

“The issue we’re seeing, it’s not hesitancy -- rather it’s simply access,” Cressy said, adding that trusted community-based organizations using multiple tools to reach people in specific communities will help continue Toronto’s vaccination success.

Tory said getting 70 per cent or more Torontonians vaccinated will help end the pandemic and get restrictions on businesses and more lifted by the province.

“This will be crucial in progressing through the province’s road map to reopen, which relies heavily on vaccination levels,” Tory said.

“I cannot stress enough -- if you, like me, want to get on with reopening as soon as possible, we need everyone to get vaccinated. The vaccines will be instrumental to bringing this pandemic to an end.”

The campaign will happen in three phases. The first, now underway, encourages all Torontonians to book a first dose. The second, starting in mid-June, will target neighbourhoods and communities with low first-dose vaccination rates.

The final phase, starting in July, will continue to target Torontonians without a first dose and “support the second-dose citywide efforts.”

Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s public health chief, noted about 20 per cent of people aged 80 and older still have not received their first dose, adding that number could drop if the province makes vaccine more widely available through physicians’ offices.