Item - 2022.HL36.2

The Board of Health:

1. Requested the Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, to include recommendations for extending the successful work of Vaccine Engagement Teams to continue supporting the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, as part of the report to the Board of Health on the evaluation of Vaccine Engagement Teams at its meeting on May 16, 2022.

2. Requested the Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, to include recommendations for adapting the community-based Vaccine Engagement Teams model to address other health inequities that have been exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of the report to the Board of Health on the development of new approaches to address public health issues at its meeting on June 20, 2022.

Board of Health considered Items HL36.1 and HL36.2 together.

The Deputy Medical Officer of Health and the Director, Communications, Social Development, Finance and Administration gave a presentation on TO Supports: COVID-19 Equity Action Plan Update.

From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Toronto Public Health and the City of Toronto have been committed to identifying and mitigate inequities in health outcomes for Torontonians. In December 2020, the Board of Health endorsed the TO Supports: COVID-19 Equity Action Plan with 25 targeted equity actions.

This report responds to the Board of Health's request on March 21, 2022 for an update on TO Supports: Equity Action Plan, including Vaccine Engagement Teams. Overall, TO Supports has demonstrated innovation, effectiveness, responsiveness and impact in providing assistance, outreach, and resources for equity-deserving Torontonians throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

A post-pandemic recovery must respond to the compounded effects on the health and well-being of equity-deserving populations and remain adaptable to potential changes in public health needs driven by future variants, vaccine changes or increased disease severity. Successful equity-focused engagement models that have been employed effectively as part of the pandemic response are being explored to support a more equitable pandemic recovery, and longer-term engagement model for public health, health care, and social services.