As Toronto prepares to reopen schools and reintroduce in-person learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine efforts continue to ramp up through several targeted initiatives this week.
Vaccinations clinics, including mobile ones in specific neighbourhoods with lower vaccination rates, continue to be set up around schools as remote learning for children pauses on Jan. 17—the official date elementary schools were expected to return from the extended holiday break.
Education Minister Stephen Leece announced last week that schools would return to in-person this week, however a severe snowstorm canceled bus routes and school remained remote for the first day.
With more cases being reported due to the Omicron variant, unions and parents continue to express concerns regarding testing among students, keeping teachers and staff workers safe with the right PPE (personal protective equipment in place, as well as reporting positive cases and clearly outlining isolation lengths.
Toronto Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa detailed the city’s current work on vaccinating students and the new updates and guidelines to keep children, teachers and childcare workers as safe as possible amid Omicron's wave.
"Getting education workers vaccinated is an important step in making sure our school communities can be a safe environment for students, staff, parents and families, and the larger community," said de Villa. "I want to thank Team Toronto and our health partners for working hard to protect the health of our education workers who provide such a vital service to our children and our city."
New efforts include increasing accessibility for children and parents getting their vaccines, as well as childcare workers who require their third booster shot.
Further, Toronto Mayor John Tory announced several new pop-ups in specific areas across the city for low barrier vaccinations. Following several held in the downtown core, the next major vaccination event will be at the Aviva Centre in York University.
“The Vax The Northwest mega-clinic is another great example of Team Toronto in action helping residents get vaccinated," Tory said. "We are doing everything we can—with our healthcare and community partners – to help residents get their first, second and third COVID-19 vaccine doses. I continue to encourage all eligible residents to get vaccinated as soon as possible so they have the best protection available against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant."
As the mass vaccination approaches, Tory is reiterating the need to spread the word through social media channels, including Twitter.
Toronto parent groups and unions that continue to pressure levels of government to increase N95 masks for workers, and provide a more concrete set of guidelines regarding possible infections that were to occur in schools.
Unions include the Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario (AECEO), who sent out a letter to Leece regarding the need for more PPE, standardized pay and sick days to maintain staff numbers, and transparency in reporting positive cases.
AECEO is expected to speak with CJRU later this week.
Following the city’s snowstorm and a proper return to in-person classes, more details are to follow.
Listen to the CJRU news update: