Women-led campaign makes vaccine information accessible for Manitoba newcomers

A campaign led by women of colour who work with newcomers in Manitoba is building confidence within those communities about getting vaccinated for COVID-19.

A group made up of several newcomer and ethnocultural groups andmeets overZoom, makesphone callsand hostsexpert talkssometimes inlanguages other than English where people can ask questions.

The groupis especially focusing on seniors who live independently, as they don't have the same access to information as other people, said Perla Javate, co-chair of the Ethnocultural Council of Manitoba.

"If you ask them a simple question, the simple answer to the question will be, 'I don't want to go for the vaccination,'"said Javate. "But truly, some of the reason behind it is they don't know how to navigate the system."

The Women of Colour Community Leadership Initiativeteamed up with NorWest Co-op Community Health to make vaccine information available on posters,by video and online in eight languages.

Responding to concerns, lack of information

The Ethnocultural Council of Manitobaa non-profit organization representing more than 20 cultural communities in the provinceis working with the groupto get accurate, factual and scientific information on the safety of vaccines to people in various ethnocultural groups in Winnipeg after hearing about vaccine concerns.

The council commissioneda survey of community leaders, and40per cent of them saidpeople in their community have concerns about the vaccine's side effects, long-term efficacyand safety.

Some also feared the vaccine because of the history related to vaccination in their home countries.

"And then comes lack of information and/or sometimes misinformation because of all the myths that are coming in, and some are hesitant because of their experiences with past vaccines that they've had," said Javate.

'Women of colour play a critical role'

A social media campaignled by women for womenencourages seniors and health-care workers to post a vaccine selfie along with the reason they got the shot.

"They took a photo and shared it on social media, which is very powerful when other people see their neighbours or coworkers or friends are sharing those photos or reasons," said Jennifer Chen, president of the Women of Colour Community Leadership Initiative.

She said there's a reason why women are leading this and prioritizing connection with other women.

"Women of colour play a critical role in keeping families and communities healthy in the ethnocultural community's culture," she added.

Chen shared vaccine safety information in Chinese, joining those who shared the same information in Hindi, Dinka, Punjabi, Arabic, Chinese, Nepali, Vietnamese and Spanish.

"It's basically getting the information, the right information, to all the people," said Javate.

She got her dose of the vaccine at Winnipeg's supersite in early April, and now encourages her friends and community to do the same.

"For me it felt good. You feel a little safer."

Making vaccine information accessible for Manitoba newcomers

3 years ago

Duration 2:40

A campaign led by women of colour who work with newcomers in Manitoba is building confidence within those communities about getting vaccinated for COVID-19.