The City of Toronto, in collaboration with Ontario Health Team partners and under the leadership of the Sunnybrook Centre for Prehospital Medicine and Toronto Public Health, is significantly expanding mobile vaccine team capabilities by staffing new mobile clinic teams with Toronto Paramedics and Firefighters.

Starting next week, teams of Toronto Paramedics and Firefighters will be deployed with partner physicians and healthcare professionals to locations across Toronto to operate mobile COVID-19 clinics. The teams will leverage the clinical expertise of Paramedics and healthcare professionals, who will serve as vaccine loaders and immunizers, while Firefighters manage logistics, client screening, registration and after-care support.

The responsive teams are part of the City’s enhanced supports for individuals experiencing homelessness and living in high-priority congregate settings, including shelters, drop-in sites and encampments. Toronto Public Health will deploy the teams to locations that have been identified by Ontario Health Team partners based on prioritized risk and vaccine availability. The program responds directly to the need for different solutions in order to serve different populations.

The mobile teams will be available seven days per week. The program is fully scalable – meaning more teams can be added as needed – in response to vaccine availability and community need. The teams are running through final preparations this week and will be ready to deploy as early as Monday, April 26, pending vaccine availability.

“Toronto Paramedic Services is an integral part of the healthcare system and plays a key role in the City's response to the pandemic. We are pleased to be partnering with Toronto Public Health, Toronto Fire Services and the Sunnybrook Centre for Prehospital Medicine, to deliver vaccinations to those experiencing homelessness and in high-priority areas. This initiative will support the Team Toronto effort to protect all of our communities in the continued fight against COVID-19.” - Chief Gord McEachen, Toronto Paramedic Services