Toronto vaccinating 50+ age group in high risk areas, approve shots for 60+

By Michael Ranger, Lucas Casaletto

With Ontario heading into another province-wide lockdown, hope remains in the form of vaccines.

The rollout in the GTA continues with most regions expanding, or hoping to expand, vaccine eligibility to younger residents.

Toronto Mayor John Tory said Wednesday that he asked the provincial government to allow the city to begin offering vaccine appointments to those as young as 60 years old in an effort to speed up its inoculation process.

It appears his wish has been granted.

The province has agreed to allow for vaccine appointments for anyone 60-and-up in Toronto, Tory confirmed Thursday.

Appointments can be booked as of Friday morning.

There are also people in the 50-plus age category also getting vaccinations in Toronto in the northwestern catchment.

That area is bounded by Steeles south to Eglinton, and Islington West to Bathurst.

Michael Garron Hospital and Toronto East Health partners are vaccinating residents 50 and over but only in the areas hardest hit by COVID-19.

They include Thorncliffe Park, Clairlea-Birchmount, Flemingdon Park, Parma Court, Victoria Village, Cliffcrest, and Scarborough Village.

Humber River Hospital is also treating residents in that age group in hot spot neighbourhoods.

“This change will ensure that we continue to fill up all available appointments and work to get as many eligible people vaccinated, as our supply allows, throughout the holiday weekend and beyond,” Tory said.

As of 7 p.m. Thursday, first dose appointments at St. Joseph’s and St. Michael’s COVID-19 vaccine clinics will be available for people who are born in 1971 or before and who live in certain high-risk areas.

The mayor stressed the importance for as many residents as possible to get a vaccine to help get the city through the pandemic.

“The sooner we are all vaccinated, the sooner this pandemic will be over,” said Tory. “It is our best defense against COVID-19, and the variant which we know are taking their toll across the province right now.”

Toronto’s six vaccination clinics are currently offering shots to anyone 70 and older and will be operating through the Easter weekend.

Appointments are still available on Good Friday, Saturday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday.


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York, Halton, and Peel Regions are all moving to a younger age group for the next round of COVID-19 vaccine appointments.

York and Halton announced they were moving to 65 and up earlier this week.

Peel Region followed suit on Wednesday, announcing anyone 65 and older can begin to book immediately.


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The provincial government announced Tuesday that the province has secured just over 933,000 doses of Pfizer’s vaccine as of Monday, and in the weeks ahead they’re expecting approximately 1.5 million additional doses through April 26.

The latest round of Moderna deliveries is delayed until April 12 but Canadian officials say those doses could arrive earlier than that.

There were 89,873 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered in the province in the last 24 hour period.

As of 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, 2,192,253 total doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered and 315,820 people have been fully vaccinated.

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