More than 60% of Toronto youth have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine
The City of Toronto says that more than 60 per cent of youth between the ages of 12 and 17 have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Tuesday’s announcement comes amid a two-week “vaccination blitz” by the city, which continues this week and aims to get more needles in young people’s arms by way of more than 65 youth-focused clinics.
Over the last week, more than 10,900 shots were administered to youths across Toronto, according to the city.
In a news release, Mayor John Tory thanked families for speaking with their children about the importance of getting the shot.
“The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective and will ensure young people are protected and ready to go back to school in the fall,” he said.
The city called the number of vaccinations completed an important milestone in the fight against the Delta variant, which officials have said is on track to become the dominant strain of COVID-19 in Ontario.
Provincewide, 51 per cent of youth aged 12 to 17 have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the Ministry of Education said Tuesday.
A day earlier, the city announced that more than 75 per cent of adults had received a first dose of vaccine and more than 30 per cent of adults have received a second dose and are considered to be fully vaccinated.
Youths between the ages of 12 and 17 looking to get a jab can do so through the provincial booking system here. Those interested will receive the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine, which is approved for all individuals 12 years of age and older.
The strategy to vaccinate more young people in Toronto is being co-led by Toronto Public Health and The Hospital for Sick Children.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Rainfall warnings of up to 80 mm among weather alerts in effect for 6 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres and other alerts have been issued for six Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people. An 8-year-old child is only survivor
A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.
Calgary bridges remain closed due to ongoing police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.