As Toronto prepares to loosen further restrictions and reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic with the rest of Ontario, the city is boosting vaccine availability for Scarborough neighbourhoods.

Team Toronto’s new initiative, Vax the East, is the largest vaccine campaign to date.

Clinics will be established in several schools within the Toronto District School Board and key community hubs around busy intersections in the east end, including Malvern and Morningside.

The 10-day campaign runs until Feb. 21. Other vaccine campaigns like the recent Vax the North at York University’s Aviva Centre, are normally two days long on a weekend.

Scarborough communities, especially near the eastern border of Durham region, are averaging vaccinations rates between 79 to 86 per cent, according to the City of Toronto website. This accounts for individuals who have received at least one dose.

These numbers are well below the city average of about 91 per cent, which Toronto Mayor John Tory announced as a critical milestone to begin 2022.

During the recent COVID-19 city update, Tory spoke on the need to ensure vaccines are easily accessible, residents are made aware and that these Scarborough neighbourhoods increase these vaccine percentages.

"This is another example of how all of our Team Toronto partners are working together to help people have the best protection possible against COVID-19, Tory said. "I encourage everyone to come out this weekend and get vaccinated and participate in the fun activities Team Toronto has planned for these events."

Further, Tory said Team Toronto staff will be in the neighbourhoods to speak to residents and offer information on vaccines.

Information and all vaccine appointments will be offered in several different languages, Tory said. Offered languages include Farsi, Tagalog and Urdu. Other public areas in Scarborough like the Toronto Zoo will continue its walk-ins as well.

In addition to increased vaccination clinics, the Scarborough Health Network is continuing its campaign, Love Scarborough, to bring awareness to its under funded healthcare facilities.

The campaign established a goal of $100 million in January to help modernize and provide the same innovative technology other Toronto hospitals offer, according to its website.

One of the current fundraising initiatives is a clothing collaboration with Scarborough Spots.

Its slogan is “Toronto isn’t Toronto without us.”

More details on Scarborough healthcare news to come.

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