Toronto police to patrol immunization sites as vaccinations for kids aged 5 to 11 ramp up
Toronto police say charges could be laid against those who will cause trouble at immunization sites in the city that could hinder families from getting their children their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
In a tweet Friday evening, police said officers will be deployed near clinics and will patrol over the coming days.
"Their safety is of utmost importance and interference, or obstruction will not be tolerated. Charges will be laid if warranted," police tweeted.
Const. David Hopkinson told CP24 Friday that the directive came from interim Police Chief James Ramer in response to some concerns expressed by the community.
The city said its five immunization clinics will be running at full capacity this weekend as vaccinations for children aged five to 11 ramp up.
"It's a directive to the officers to be a bit more vigilant," Hopkinson said. "He's directed officers to pay a little bit more attention to the vaccination sites."
Earlier this week, protesters gathered outside a clinic in Windsor as children got their first dose of the Pfizer pediatric vaccine.
Hopkinson said Toronto police have not received any reports of incidents at vaccination clinics but warned that any disruption will not be permitted.
"This is more a proactive measure by the chief to try and provide safety for families that are visiting vaccination sites and to alleviate some concerns," he said.
"If a parent has decided that they think it's safe for their child to be vaccinated, they have the right to go into those vaccination clinics. They have the right to get the vaccination, and nobody should impede them from doing it. It will not be tolerated."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.