Ontario Opens New Mass Vaccination Clinic in Peel Region

Team Ontario continues to urgently ramp up vaccine capacity to combat Omicron variant

News.Ontario.ca
Dec. 24, 2021

As the province continues to urgently ramp up its capacity to administer COVID-19 vaccines, the Ontario government is opening a new mass vaccination clinic at the International Centre in Mississauga to quickly get more boosters into arms. Starting today, the new mass vaccination clinic, operated in partnership with Switch Health, will administer boosters to individuals aged 18 and over, as well as first and second doses to individuals aged five and over.

Quickly accelerating booster doses is the cornerstone of Ontario’s response to the threat posed by the Omicron variant to the province’s hospitals and intensive-care units. Third booster doses provide an increased level of protection for people against severe outcomes.

“Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Team Ontario and mass vaccination clinics like the one at the International Centre in Mississauga, we are getting more shots into arms every day,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Whether you need your first, second or booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, Team Ontario will be here to help. Please get vaccinated as soon as you can.”

The new mass vaccination clinic will be open seven days a week. Ontarians can book an appointment to receive their first, second or booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the clinic through Ontario’s booking portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900. A limited number of walk-in appointments will be also available.

The clinic is working on ramping up to its full capacity of approximately 19,000 vaccinations per day, which will help to significantly increase capacity in the area and push Ontario closer to its goal of up to 300,000 doses per day. On December 22, Ontario administered over 253,000 COVID-19 vaccines in a single day.

As the province continues to work with the health care sector to ramp up its daily capacity, Team Ontario is extending its call to arms to support Ontario’s vaccine rollout and get more shots into arms in communities across the province. Individuals who are interested in becoming a COVID-19 vaccine administrator are encouraged to register through the Health Workforce Matching Portal. Individuals who are interested in volunteering to support health care providers and others at vaccination clinics across the province are encouraged to register through the Ontario COVID-19 Volunteer Portal.

“We are using every tool available to keep Ontarians safe from COVID-19 and meet the strong demand for booster shots across the province,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “Mass vaccination clinics like this one will go a long way to help us vaccinate people as swiftly and conveniently as possible.”

As of December 22, 2021, more than two million COVID-19 booster doses have been administered in Ontario. Individuals aged 18 and over across the province are eligible to receive their booster dose three months (84 days) after their second dose, and are strongly encouraged to book their appointment through Ontario’s booking portal, by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre, through Indigenous-led vaccination clinics, participating pharmacies, primary care settings, or mass vaccination clinics such as the new International Centre COVID-19 vaccination clinic.

Quick Facts

• As of December 22, 2021, Ontario has administered more than 26 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with more than 90 per cent of Ontarians aged 12 and over having received at least one dose and more than 87 per cent having received a second dose. 40 per cent of children aged five to 11 have received their first dose.
• Effective January 4, 2022, the use of the enhanced COVID-19 vaccine certificate with QR code and the Verify Ontario app will be required where proof of vaccination is required. Download by visiting ontario.ca/get-proof, or call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 to have your vaccine certificate mailed.

Have questions about the paediatric COVID-19 vaccine? Contact the Provincial Vaccine Confidence Line at 1-833-943-3900, or visit COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service to book a confidential phone appointment with a SickKids clinician.