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Toronto updates Omicron response, reaching next vaccination goals this month

A boy receiving a bandaid on his arm from a medical worker.
Toronto is ramping up its vaccine campaign as a response to the Omicron variant. Vaccinating children and providing appointments for a third booster shot continue to be the city's focus. Photo courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via Unsplash.
Daniel Centeno - CJRU - Toronto • ON | 13-12-2021
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The City of Toronto continues to outline new measures as the city responds to the emergence of the COVID-19 Omicron variant and positive cases climb.

As the holiday season continues, Toronto Mayor John Tory addressed the media this week about progress towards vaccinating children ages five to 11, reaching 90 per cent of all residents receiving two vaccines doses and encouraging those eligibile to receive their third booster shot when age windows open.

According to a Dec.13 press release, the city is opening more appointments to increase booster shot opportunities.

“We are opening up 100,000 vaccine appointments and reaching out to 73,000 eligible residents to help people get their booster doses," Tory said in the press release. "The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and Team Toronto is working to make sure people have access to third doses and know they are eligible. Please get your booster dose as soon as you can so we can continue to make progress bringing this pandemic to an end.”

Toronto continues to report more than 1,000 positive cases per day in December, the highest counts since May.

To address the concerns regarding Omicron, the age restrictions for third doses will be lifted on Jan. 4. and some schools have been started winter break about a week earlier, according to Tory's recent press conference.

Chief medical officer Dr. Eileen de Villa updated the media about the need for more research on Omicron on Nov. 8, and how it should be considered a variant of concern for residents.

Due to personal medical reasons, de Villa was not present at the Dec. 8 media briefing, and is expected to be absent for future ones until further notice.

Acting medical officer of health Dr. Na-koshie Lamptey, said, "as COVID-19 continues to circulate in the community, we are encouraging all eligible residents to book their vaccination appointment to get their third dose as soon as possible."

Na-koshie emphasized the need to stay safe during the holidays, especially as cases continue to climb and residents will come into contact with loved ones.

"The vaccine is the best defence against COVID-19 and will protect you, your loved ones and the community as people seek to reconnect over the holidays."

Along with the rest of Canada, Toronto issued additional measures for Canadians returning from South African countries.

“Community members are asked to seek testing immediately, if they have any cold or flu-like symptoms, or if they have returned from, or travelled to South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Egypt, Nigeria or Malawi between November 1 and December 6, 2021," the press release reads. "Asymptomatic family members and other household contacts are also eligible for testing.”

The city's positivity rate sits at about 5.4 per cent, up from 2.4 per cent in early November according Toronto Public Health.

More details to follow.

Listen to the CJRU news update here: 

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