This weekend, the Maple Leafs and Raptors won’t be the ones taking a winning shot at Scotiabank Arena. Some 25,000 Toronto residents have scheduled COVID-19 vaccination appointments at the pop-up clinic to be held in the home of the NHL and NBA teams on Sunday, June 27, which is now fully booked.
This initiative comes as a result of an alliance between the City of Toronto, Team Toronto vaccination partners, Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) and Scotiabank, who are looking to get as many Toronto residents as possible vaccinated and set a Canadian single-day clinic vaccination record on what's being called Toronto Vaccine Day.
Toronto Mayor John Tory thanked the 25,000 people who have signed up to get vaccinated.
"Team Toronto has come together to get thousands of people vaccinated at this one-day, record-breaking clinic. And I want to thank the TTC for offering free rides to and from any vaccine appointment on Sunday to help further encourage people to get their shot. I know people are eager to get vaccinated so that we can bring this pandemic to an end. The success of Toronto Vaccine Day will help continue our progress making sure everyone gets their first and second shots.
This news has come at a time when Canadians are excited to return to pre-pandemic activities. More than 30% of Torontonians have already received their second shot, while many more anxiously wait for their turn to become fully vaccinated.
“The sooner we can get vaccinated, the sooner we can get back to doing all the things we love, like cheering on our Leafs and Raptors inside Scotiabank Arena. I know I sure miss that,” said Tory in a video discussing the highly anticipated day.
The clinic, led by University Health Network and Michael Garron Hospital, will be providing first and second shots, with Moderna vaccines for the majority and Pfizer doses for those aged 12 to 17.
Brian Porter, Scotiabank’s President and CEO, shared his excitement for the initiative.
"History will be made this Sunday as the doors at Scotiabank Arena swing open to a record number of people who will be getting their shots. The response from people who want to protect themselves, their families, and their communities has been nothing short of amazing. Vaccines are an essential step on our road to recovery, and Sunday’s Vaccination Clinic at Scotiabank Arena is a monumental step forward in our journey to beat the virus.”
Read more about Toronto Vaccine Day and who is eligible to get their shot here