Scotiabank Arena vaccine clinic being held Sunday now fully booked

Thestar.com
June 24, 2021
David Rider

A record 25,000 people will be vaccinated against COVID-19 Sunday at the Scotiabank Arena clinic that is now fully booked, city officials said Wednesday.

Appointments to get first and second vaccine doses in the home of the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs opened Monday morning, with an original goal of more than 10,000 eligible people getting a shot.

Clinic organizers, including the University Health Network and Michael Garron Hospital, are promising a festive atmosphere with appearances by the Raptors and Leafs mascots and more.

City officials say they are overwhelmed by the fast and furious response.

“The North American single-dose clinic record is 17,003 doses set at the Texas Motor Speedway. Toronto, we’re about to crush it,” Coun. Joe Cressy, chair of Toronto Public Health, tweeted Wednesday morning.

“25,000 people have now registered (our full capacity) for Our Winning Shot at Scotiabank Arena. Now, let’s get Toronto vaccinated!”

The TTC is providing free rides Sunday to and from booked appointments at any Toronto vaccination clinics. Riders must show proof of booking going to the appointment and proof of vaccination on the ride home.

Officials noted people who failed to get a Scotiabank Arena slot still have lots of chances to get vaccinated at the nine city-run clinics and many more being operated by hospitals and other health partners.

The goal is to boost Toronto’s rising vaccination rate and keep the highly contagious Delta virus variant at bay, while beating Canada’s one-day immunization record of 10,470 people set in May at a Thorncliffe Park hub.

People aged 18 and older who received a first dose of Moderna or Pfizer before May 30, or a first dose of AstraZeneca before May 1, are eligible to book accelerated second-dose appointments.

The city says provincial rules require kids aged 12 to 17 to wait 56 days for their second doses, but some -- including First Nations, Inuit and Métis, or kids with high-risk medical conditions -- can book sooner through the provincial system or their health care provider.

Eligible people can book a vaccination appointment at a city clinic via https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/ by clicking the dark blue button or by calling 1-833-943-3900.

Also, kids aged 12 to 17 who live, work or go to school in a designated Toronto COVID-19 hot spot might get an accelerated second dose at a pop-up or mobile community clinic, subject to organizers’ direction.