Toronto's new 'Vax and Read' campaign brings COVID-19 vaccination clinics to libraries

If you still need a COVID-19 vaccine and wouldn't mind borrowing a book in the process, you're in luck.

The City of Toronto launched Wednesday a new campaign that see vaccine clinics set up at libraries across the city.

Mayor John Tory says the new campaign dubbed Vax And Read is set tostartWednesday and will run for two weeks at12 Toronto Public Librarybranches.

It's part of the city'shyper-local mobile strategy aimed at bringing shots toareaswith low vaccination coverage, as well as to residents who are at high risk of contracting COVID-19.

The clinics will operate on a walk-in basis no appointments are required.

"I urge all of those eligible who have not yet had their first, second, third or pediatric dose to visit their local library and do so," Tory said in a news release issued Wednesday.

A full list of clinic locations and hours can be found hereon the city's website.

This comes as the city says it's shifting its overall vaccine efforts to focus on gettingbooster doses to olderresidents, specifically those 50 and older.

As part of those efforts, the citysays close to 40,000 people living in 13 Toronto neighbourhoods will be contacted by phonethrough the VaxTO centre, which Tory and Board of Health Chair Joe Cressy likened to a get-out-the-vote campaign.

"Now, more than ever, it is important that we continue to follow our evidence-based approach to ensure the most vulnerable are protected," Tory said.

"Using outreach methods such as live callers, gives us the opportunity to speak directly with Torontonians ... and remove any remaining barriers to vaccination."

The city also says it's distributing $4.5 million in grants to support what it calls "equitable" vaccine engagement, adding that its teams have already connected with more than 1.5 million community members through various health, community and faith-based organizations.

That workhas resulted in increased vaccine "confidence, access and uptake" among diverse communities across Toronto, the city says.

The grant funding, which will be in place through July 1, will go toward outreach activities in neighbourhoods and communities that have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.