East Toronto Health Partners opens two COVID-19 Immunization Clinics in East Toronto to increase capacity to administer vaccines to eligible priority populations

(March 8, 2021) Toronto, ON – East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP), the Ontario Health Team (OHT) serving East Toronto, is currently operating two COVID-19 Immunization Clinics that will administer vaccines to eligible priority populations in East Toronto. Clinics include:

1. Warden Hilltop Community Centre

  • This week focusing on health care workers and first responders in East Toronto

2. Michael Garron Hospital (MGH)

  • This week dedicating appointments for those 80 years of age or older

Vaccine availability at these two ETHP COVID-19 Immunization Clinics is by appointment only. No walk-in appointments will be accepted.

At this time, vaccinations are eligible to limited priority populations, including health care workers, first responders and seniors who are 80 years of age or older.

The COVID-19 Immunization Clinics are using the provincial government supply of vaccines allocated to MGH. They are a key pillar in ETHP’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan for East Toronto.

Those interested in receiving appointments at these clinics are asked to complete ETHP’s interim online pre-registration form. ETHP’s COVID-19 Vaccine Booking Office will contact eligible individuals who complete the form to book an appointment when vaccine supply is available.

About ETHP’s COVID-19 Immunization Clinic at Warden Hilltop Community Centre

Monday, March 8 is the first day of operation for the COVID-19 Immunization Clinic at Warden Hilltop Community Centre (25 Mendelssohn Street, Scarborough).  To start, this site will administer COVID-19 vaccines to health care workers and first responders in East Toronto who have pre-registered for the vaccine using ETHP’s interim online pre-registration form.

These individuals who have pre-registered are contacted for an appointment when they are considered eligible for vaccination in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s Guidance on Health Care Worker Prioritization and when vaccine supply is available. Eligible health care workers and first responders in East Toronto may also arrange to be vaccinated at this site through their employer.

This week, ETHP’s COVID-19 Immunization Clinic at Warden Hilltop Community Centre is open from Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hours may change depending on vaccine availability. The clinic will begin vaccinating additional populations in alignment with the Ontario government and Toronto Public Health (TPH) and when vaccine supply is available.

About ETHP’s dedicated seniors’ COVID-19 Immunization Clinic at MGH

The ETHP COVID-19 Immunization Clinic began operating at Michael Garron Hospital (825 Coxwell Avenue) on December 22, 2020.

This week, the MGH site will host a dedicated seniors’ COVID-19 Immunization Clinic administering vaccines to seniors who are 80 years of age or older and who have pre-registered for the vaccine using ETHP’s interim online pre-registration form and received a confirmed appointment.

Once vaccine appointments at MGH have been scheduled for these individuals, ETHP’s COVID-19 Vaccine Booking Office will begin contacting eligible individuals who have completed ETHP’s interim online pre-registration.

To start, ETHP’s dedicated seniors’ COVID-19 Immunization Clinic at MGH is open from Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hours may change depending on vaccine availability. The clinic will begin vaccinating additional populations in alignment with the Ontario government and TPH and when vaccine supply is available.

Why host a dedicated seniors’ immunization clinic at MGH

ETHP has opened a dedicated seniors’ COVID-19 Immunization Clinic at MGH because the hospital is an easily accessible, familiar place for many seniors who are 80 years of age or older in East Toronto. The clinic is considered “low-volume” in that patients are able to sit in one place for their registration, vaccination and observation period. A physician will be at the clinic to help answer questions.

Other vaccination efforts underway as part of ETHP’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan for East Toronto

Last week, ETHP partnered with the East Toronto Family Practice Network (EasT-FPN) to pilot dedicated seniors vaccination clinics for those 80 years of age and older at various family practice locations in East Toronto. Plans are underway to continue to vaccinate people that are 80 years of age and older in dedicated seniors clinics in family practice locations to offer a familiar, senior-friendly setting for this priority population.

Over the next two weeks, ETHP’s mobile vaccination team plans to visit 10 seniors’ congregate settings, 12 shelters, two community health centres and primary care clinics in East Toronto to offer COVID-19 vaccines to eligible priority populations. Through these efforts, the team expects to vaccinate more than 2,000 eligible residents who are aged 80 or over or experiencing homelessness.

Toronto Hospitals and Ontario Health Teams launch centralized COVID-19 Call Centre and Website

MGH, a proud member of ETHP, has also collaborated with eight other Toronto hospitals and partner OHTs in the region to develop a centralized COVID-19 call centre and website to support eligible adults in Toronto to pre-register or book their vaccination appointments. Starting March 8, 2021, people from these priority groups can now go to www.vaccineto.ca  or toronto.ca/covid19 to access the pre-registration or appointment booking systems for sites nearest to them. People can also call (1-888-385-1910) for assistance to complete pre-registration forms and book appointments at their local vaccine clinics operated by participating hospitals and OHTs.

To learn more about ETHP’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan for East Toronto, visit ethp.ca or tehn.ca.

Quotes from ETHP leaders

“Since being named a designated COVID-19 vaccination site by the Ontario government in December 2020, Michael Garron Hospital has administered vaccines to thousands of eligible priority individuals through its two hospital-based clinics,” said Sarah Downey, president and CEO of MGH and a member of ETHP. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to apply what we’ve learned to ensure a positive vaccination experience for seniors in our communities, many of whom have been hardest hit by the pandemic.”

“The opening of a dedicated seniors’ immunization clinic in East Toronto coupled with the efforts of our mobile vaccination team will help ensure we can reach all eligible priority populations in our community, particularly those who have complex needs or face challenges related to mobility,” said Dr. Tia Pham, physician lead at the South East Toronto Family Health Team (SETFHT) and a member of ETHP on behalf of the EasT-FPN. “As we continue to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine, it’s important we explore every avenue for vaccine administration possible. This contributes to health equity and helps ensure the most vulnerable people in our communities are protected.”

About East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP)

East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP), the Ontario Health Team (OHT) serving East Toronto, is a group of more than 50 community, primary care, home care, hospital and social services organizations in East Toronto working together to create an integrated system of care across our communities. Collectively, ETHP is responsible for providing care and support to the 300,000 individuals who live in East Toronto communities, as well as an additional 75,000 clients who choose to receive health care in the local area. Clients, family members and caregivers are partners in every aspect of the development of ETHP, working together to improve the way East Toronto residents access and receive care. Visit ethp.ca to learn more.