Toronto calls in the superheroes to help with vaccinating young children against COVID-19

Thestar.com
Nov. 16, 2021

Toronto is ready to quickly vaccinate 200,000 young children against COVID-19 with a multi-pronged blitz officials expect to launch before the end of November.

The strategy unveiled Wednesday includes “superhero selfie stations,” where freshly vaccinated kids can pose for photos, and other ways to make the jabs a celebration of getting protected and helping end the pandemic.

“Team Toronto Kids is the largest kids’ vaccination drive in our country’s history and we’re now ready to roll it out,” Coun. Joe Cressy, chair of Toronto’s public health board, told reporters at a briefing.

“It should be fun,” he said of the experience for children aged five to 11, once Health Canada and Ontario health officials have approved the Pfizer vaccine already approved in the U.S. for young children.

“Kids across Toronto will have a chance to roll up their sleeves and be a real superhero.”

Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s public health chief, who previously said she hoped for approvals allowing child vaccinations to start within weeks, said she now expects the blitz will launch by the end of November.

De Villa also expects, based on federal government assurances, for there to be sufficient supply to vaccinate all kids quickly, without stage-gating access by age groups as happened with adult vaccinations earlier this year.

But the city strategy includes targeted supports to boost access and acceptance in 30 neighbourhoods, identified by factors including lower-than-average teen vaccination rates and below-average incomes.

The city previously put online a “tool kit” of information about COVID-19 to address concerns that parents or guardians might have. The strategy has the city spreading the information via telephone town halls, community meetings and online “webinars.”

Kids shots will be given at sites including schools, community hubs, doctors’ offices and city-run clinics, which are also gearing back up to provide third vaccine shots to people 12 and over as the province expands eligibility.

Experts have cited urgency for child vaccinations given Toronto’s rising daily COVID-19 infections driven largely by kids who are less likely than adults to get seriously ill but can get gravely sick and also sicken others.

Toronto COVID-19 data updated Wednesday shows the seven-day average for new daily infections creeping up for the second straight week, after seven straight weeks of declines attributed primarily to the city’s high vaccination rate.

But the local average rose only by two cases. Much bigger spikes have hit other parts of Ontario including Sudbury, Southwestern Ontario and Niagara, prompting the province to pause planned easing of restrictions.

Asked if Toronto could reinstate capacity limits on sports venues and restaurants if local cases continue to climb, Mayor John Tory said he’ll listen to advice from de Villa but, for now, Toronto has one pandemic-fighting focus.

“Our top 3 priorities remain the same -- vaccination, vaccination and vaccination,” Tory said.

He revealed more details about the cancellation of some autumn recreation programs due to the suspension of part-time city staff who haven’t shown proof of full vaccination, as required by the city’s strict vaccination mandate.

Some 69 classes, including music, sport, preschool, art, fitness, dance and general interest programs at 17 city facilities across Toronto, have been halted.

The roughly 400 affected residents are being contacted by the city and offered credits for future classes or refund. About 92 per cent of part-time recreation employees have shown the city proof of full vaccination.

Tory was asked if he expects other city services to be affected by suspensions and possible eventual firings of city staff who refuse to show proof of vaccination.

The mayor said he “really hopes not.” The city has assured residents that emergency services will not be affected by any suspensions or firings.