Toronto to ramp up COVID-19 vaccine clinic operations in response to Omicron River case
The city of Toronto is stepping up efforts to test the safety of vaccines prepared at its municipal level as a direct response to the recent Omicron River virus outbreak in the city as well as a related Canadian case.
The city’s immunization clinic, which has been called the ‘one stop shop for vaccines in Toronto’, is increasing its capacity by increasing the number of dedicated vaccine production staff which will help in expanding the laboratory space to meet requirements in the event that a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 is needed.
Toronto’s vaccine clinics, which have been known to be the busiest in Canada for conducting mass immunization activities, have been operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week since the start of the pandemic. But due to the need to move to a more mobile and flexible approach, the city has recently brought in additional staff, including scientists, to help prepare vaccines and take them to testing facilities.
Toronto’s Immunization Clinic, located at 1 John St. W. between Adelaide St. and Bay St., is the only clinic in Canada that acts as a ‘one stop shop’ for the public health community to receive up to date information on vaccine research, vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) and vaccine safety and efficacy.
It is a hub-and-spoke model wherein public health and health care professionals come together to conduct a series of tests in advance of a vaccine to ensure that all protocols are being followed and to ensure that all necessary precautions are taken to protect the public.
The clinic has been operating since opening in July 2017 and is already planning to expand capacity due to the need for additional laboratory space. The expansion will allow for the clinic to conduct up to a dozen tests a day, with the capacity to expand to up to 10 tests per day should a vaccine be required.
In the meantime, the city of Toronto is also stepping up efforts to train staff on the SARS-CoV-