Public health Units (PHUs) worked with faith-based organizations (FBOs) during the COVID-19 vaccine rollout to improve vaccine confidence and uptake among ethnoracially minoritized groups in Ontario. Vaccine confidence is when there is trust in (i) the effectiveness and safety of vaccines; (ii) the system that delivers them, including the reliability and competence of health professionals and (iii) the motivations of policy makers who decide on the needed vaccines. We will present research (i.e., survey and interview) results describing the various ways public health units engaged formally with different community-based and faith-based organizations to promote COVID-19 vaccine confidence and uptake among minoritized groups in Ontario. The results can inform promising practices for PHU-FBO engagement in future mass vaccination campaigns and inform the development of a more fulsome community engagement framework for immunization delivery programs. Our knowledge user, Peel Public Health will also reflect on what engagement mechanisms worked/didn’t work to increase confidence and uptake among Ontario’s minorized communities.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Describe the implementation and impact of evidence-based and evidence-informed strategies, programs, and policies to promote and protect the public's health.
• Identify considerations and approaches for enhancing collaboration and partnerships to address current and emerging public health issues.
• To critically reflect on challenges with PHU-FBO collaborations and implications for future mass vaccination campaigns.
Presenter(s): Dr. Erica Di Ruggiero, Dr. Shaza A. Fadel, Dr. Nazia Peer
The presentation can be found here: www.publichealthontario.ca/en...