(May 25, 2022) Toronto – East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP), the Ontario Health Team (OHT) serving East Toronto, and Toronto Public Health (TPH) are entering the next phase of their partnership at the mass COVID-19 immunization clinic at Thorncliffe Park Community Hub (45 Overlea Blvd.) by transitioning the staffing and operations of the clinic from ETHP to TPH.
Starting May 26, the clinic will be open Monday to Friday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will continue to accept walk-ins and appointments through the provincial booking system. The clinic will also continue to offer doses to eligible individuals aged 5 and older. More information is available at toronto.ca.
Starting May 26, individuals who have questions about the Thorncliffe Park Community Hub clinic, including those related to clinic hours, eligibility and vaccination receipts, should contact TPH at 416-338-7600 from Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or by e-mailing @email. Translation is available in multiple languages.
Supporting local residents in COVID-19 recovery
The transition represents the next evolution of the partnership between ETHP, the City of Toronto and TPH. In March 2021, ETHP partnered with the City of Toronto to open the mass COVID-19 immunization clinic at Thorncliffe Park Community Hub to help ensure people in East Toronto can get vaccinated close to home.
This includes residents of Thorncliffe Park, a rapidly growing, multicultural neighbourhood that is home to tens of thousands of people living close together in high-rise buildings that has been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
The transition will also allow both ETHP and TPH to continue their work supporting local residents in COVID-19 recovery.
For ETHP, this means evolving its COVID-19 Outreach Centres, which offer walk-in PCR tests, take-home test kits, vaccines, pathways to COVID-19 treatment and other supports, including mental health counselling, to people who live in neighbourhoods that have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the coming months, ETHP member organizations will work together to introduce additional services, such as preventative cancer screening, to these sites.
For TPH, this means introducing Hepatitis B, HPV and Meningococcal vaccines for youth and identifying other services that support the Thorncliffe Park community.
ETHP and TPH will continue to work together alongside community and grassroots organizations, Vaccine Engagement Teams (VETs), community ambassadors, schools and local elected officials to help ensure local residents have low-barrier access to COVID-19 vaccines and other services that support COVID-19 recovery.
Throughout the pandemic, these partnerships have been integral to ensuring local residents have reliable, science-based information about COVID-19 and easy access to testing, vaccines and other supports.
Celebrating success of clinic to date
Since March 2021, ETHP has led the staffing and operations of the mass COVID-19 immunization clinic at Thorncliffe Park Community Hub. During this time, the OHT has administered more than 275,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at this clinic.
On May 16, 2021, the clinic administered 10,470 doses, breaking the Canadian record for the most vaccines administered at a single clinic within 24 hours. That clinic later served as a blueprint for Toronto Vaccine Day on June 27, 2021, when ETHP member organizations once again collaborated with the City of Toronto, TPH and other health system partners to help deliver 26,771 doses in one day at Scotiabank Arena.
Since March 2021, the mass COVID-19 immunization clinic at Thorncliffe Park Community Hub has also hosted a number of dedicated clinics for specific populations, including a sit-and-stay clinic for seniors and a family-friendly clinic for children aged 5 to 11.
ETHP remains in close contact with TPH and are ready to support with staffing and operations at the Thorncliffe Park Community Hub clinic as needed.
Quotes
“Over the past year, our health system and community partners have been vital in the success of our mass COVID-19 immunization clinic at Thorncliffe Park Community Hub. By collaborating to coordinate staffing, outreach and engagement, we’ve worked together to share information, build vaccine confidence and vaccinate as many eligible individuals as possible. We look forward to continuing our work with partners, including Toronto Public Health, to ensure COVID-19 vaccines and other supports remain as low-barrier as possible to our local communities.”
– Dr. Jeff Powis, Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control, Michael Garron Hospital, a member organization of ETHP
“We opened this clinic in the heart of Thorncliffe Park with the goal of reducing barriers, such as location and transportation, to make the COVID-19 vaccine as accessible as possible for the people who live here. We’re proud to have successfully vaccinated many people from this community and will continue to collectively identify and break down barriers to care to support COVID-19 recovery.”
– Dr. Catherine Yu, Family Physician, Health Access Thorncliffe Park and Physician Lead, East Toronto Family Practice Network, member organizations of ETHP
“Team Toronto partners continue to play a critical role in our COVID-19 vaccination campaign to help make sure that all residents have convenient access to vaccination opportunities. The clinic at Thorncliffe Park Community Hub is a great example of this collaborative work to bring vaccine to where residents live, work and play. Thank you to our East Toronto Health Partners for helping to administer over 275,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. This is an impressive achievement and we look forward to continuing to work together to help protect our community from this virus.”
– Dr. Eileen de Villa, Medical Officer of Health, City of Toronto
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.