Summary
Today, Minister Lecce announced that the Ontario government is working with public health units and publicly funded school boards to plan and host vaccination clinics in or nearby schools to continue to fight COVID-19. The voluntary program is part of the province’s last mile strategy to target those who have yet to receive a first or second dose and will provide accessible and convenient access to vaccines for eligible students and their families, as well as educators and school staff who are returning to school this fall.
As of August 15, more than 69 per cent of youth aged 12 to17 have received a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 56 per cent have received a second dose. School-focused vaccination clinics will support increased uptake for eligible students, as well as education staff, and a safer return to school in the fall.
Key Messages
- As we prepare for students to return to classrooms in September our priority remains getting students back to class with a cautious start, fully funded with $1.6 billion in investment, and with the full support of the Chief Medical Officer of Health.
- We have made tremendous progress getting students, staff and their families vaccinated with more than 70 per cent of Ontarians 12 and over having received both doses, including more than 69 percent of youth aged 12 to 17 have received their first dose and 56 per cent have received their second dose.
- Although we have made excellent progress we are doing more to keep our schools and communities as safe as possible. As part of the province’s last mile strategy we are collaborating with public health units and publicly funded school boards to plan and host vaccination clinics in or nearby schools to continue to fight COVID-19. Clinics are expected to run before school starts and during the first few weeks of school.
- Having vaccination clinics at our schools will make it more accessible and convenient for eligible students and their families, as well as educators and school staff to receive their vaccine in a familiar and comfortable environment.