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Organizations promoting vaccine confidence in Canadian communities will receive up to $50,000 for the year; Hmmmm

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4 years ago

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BY SIMONE J. SMITH

In the last few weeks, I have been receiving email after email from African focused organizations and groups, requesting the newspapers attendance at events focused on vaccine confidence in the African-Caribbean community.

This phenomenon is happening across the globe. There is a push to educate Africans in the diaspora about the COVID-19 vaccine to help with the hesitancy that many are feeling about it. Why the hesitancy, well for those Africans living in North America, we have suffered through medical atrocities that have traumatized our people for generations. It is no wonder that there are some of us that are giving this vaccine the side eye.

I agree that we need to be educated on this vaccine. It is one of the reasons why when these invitations from various groups across the city came in, someone from our team would attend so that we could share information about the vaccine. We have heard horror stories, but in the interest of true journalism, we wanted to ensure that we provided balance for our community.

My outspoken reporter Amanda Williams attended the first panel. It occurred on Saturday, February 27th, 2021, and was put on by The Toronto Black COVID-19 Task Force. They held a town hall meeting titled “Misinformation and Conspiracy Theories.” Topics to be addressed were: Vaccine production companies cannot be trusted, nature and fruits are the real medicine, and doctors don’t know everything. What was interesting was while the three-hour meeting could be viewed on the task Force’s Facebook page, they failed to provide clarity on these specific topics and focused more on inequities and why people should get the vaccine.

The task force group failed to address the mentioned TED talk where Gates spoke about the possibilities of reducing the population with new vaccines and reproductive health services. The meeting ended fifteen minutes early, leaving multiple questions unanswered, such as:

  • How much of the $6.8M invested in this program was used to educate health professionals in anti-racism to ensure the black community receives equal care and treatment?
  • We are unable to distinguish the difference between Covid, pneumonia, or influenza. Deaths of other causes are also being counted as Covid. What evidence is there that proves the black community is affected most by Covid specifically and not by other causes of death?
  • Why is there such a hard push to get the vaccine, when it cannot prevent transmission?
  • Will people be expected to take multiple vaccines as the virus continues to mutate?
  • There have been reports of deaths and other adverse effects of healthy people after receiving their second shot of the vaccine. What evidence is there to show this vaccine is safe specifically for the black community?
  • What evidence is there to prove death and adverse effects are not vaccine-related?
  • How are you monitoring the black community specifically to ensure its safety and effectiveness?

Up to this point, we have not received answers to these questions. It was why when I was invited to the Black Health Task Force of Peel Presents: From Vaccine Concerns to Vaccine Confidence; Supporting Peel’s Black Community, I thought it would be an opportunity to get some answers to these questions. This Town Hall was presented as an opportunity for black, African, and Caribbean community members in Peel to discuss their concerns, ask questions about COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccine and hear from seasoned health professionals and community leaders on the topic.

Dr Dionne Duncan moderated this event, and the panellists include:

Dr. Sandra Romain

Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman

Dr. Akwatu Khenti

Lydia-Joi Marshall

I sat in the Town Hall meeting for about an hour and a half. During this time, the panellists focused on answering certain questions about the vaccine, and for the most part were able to carry the dialogue with precision. I was curious that when a question was asked about how the community was to respond to the fact that pharmaceutical companies would not compensate individuals who suffered adverse reactions to vaccines, the panel seemed unable to confidently move through the question.

I won’t lie. At that point I pretty much tuned out. There were a few other really great questions that were put out that did not receive strong answers, but I will say they did better than The Toronto Black COVID-19 Task Force.

On Friday, I received another email from the Black Opportunity Fund. On Saturday, March 13th, 2021, they would be co-hosting a digital Town Hall with nearly a dozen black doctors and healthcare practitioners to give black Canadians direct access to professionals who come from their communities. Titled “COVID-19 and the Black Community: Answering Questions About COVID Vaccines.” Together they would be tackling misinformation about the vaccine, increase awareness, and empower community members to make well-informed healthcare decisions. It would be the largest event of its kind to be held in Canada.

This one unfortunately I had to decline because I had a packed Saturday, but it did get me thinking. Why was there such a full court press by so many organizations to convince our community to take this vaccine?  Each group provided statistics showing how the community is disproportionately affected by COVID-19, and because of this it was important that we were vaccinated.

Hmmmmm!

Saturday afternoon, I received an email that brought me some answers. The Canadian government has begun a campaign to encourage vaccine confidence in Canada. Organizations promoting vaccine confidence in Canadian communities would receive up to $50,000 for the year. The application deadline is April 5th, 2021 before 8:00 pm EST.

According to this promoted vaccine confidence initiative, vaccines are fundamental tools for preventing infectious diseases, and low vaccination rates can threaten the health of Canadian and international communities. They state that complex factors influence the decision to accept vaccines. Some of these factors are dependent on science literacy levels and others are personal or societal.

They explain that achieving widespread vaccine acceptance requires an understanding of the need for vaccines, an understanding of the safety of vaccines, the removal of barriers to access vaccines, and greater confidence in vaccines. Canadians need reliable and trusted sources of evidence to inform their decisions about vaccines.

So, to meet this need, they are providing grant support to organizations with strong track records of science and/or health promotion to deliver evidence-based, vaccine-promoting information to key communities and groups and/or to build capacity in the community to promote confidence in vaccines.

What is expected is that funded activities will mobilize knowledge to improve public understanding of vaccines and help Canadians to make evidence-based decisions, especially among populations that are hesitant about vaccines.

Well look at that! It is well known that Africans living in the diaspora are hesitant when it comes to this vaccine and for good reason.

Of course, some examples of eligible activities included providing scientifically sound information about vaccines via: social media, hotlines, webinars, forums or websites in a way that addresses beliefs and fears. The actives would have to share historical perspectives on pandemics and vaccine development to build trust and confidence in the community, as well as provide techniques for identifying reliable sources of information versus misinformation pertaining to vaccines.

I want the community to really think about this. I want you to think about it long and hard. I am not going to draw any correlations for you, but there is a reason that this vaccine is being pushed down our throats.

I encourage you as I always have to do your research. Attend events like these and ask tough questions. See what answers you get back, and if they satisfy your queries, then do what is good for you and your family.

My job is to always provide context, and I really hope I was able to do that.

Knowledge is power people! Knowledge is power!

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We, as humans are guaranteed certain things in life: stressors, taxes, bills and death are the first thoughts that pop to mind. It is not uncommon that many people find a hard time dealing with these daily life stressors, and at times will find themselves losing control over their lives. Simone Jennifer Smith’s great passion is using the gifts that have been given to her, to help educate her clients on how to live meaningful lives. The Hear to Help Team consists of powerfully motivated individuals, who like Simone, see that there is a need in this world; a need for real connection. As the founder and Director of Hear 2 Help, Simone leads a team that goes out into the community day to day, servicing families with their educational, legal and mental health needs.Her dedication shows in her Toronto Caribbean newspaper articles, and in her role as a host on the TCN TV Network.

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Community News

Urban Alliance on Race Relations celebrates and highlights Racial Justice Award recipients

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2 days ago

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December 19, 2024

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BY PAUL JUNOR

It has been almost 40 years since the Urban Alliance on Race Relations (UARR) has been at the forefront of: promoting tolerance, social justice, racial equity and fairness. Since it was formed in 1975, they have celebrated and recognized changemakers in the fight for racial justice in diverse sectors such as: health, labour, government, education, arts, media, environment, and justice.

On Saturday, December 7th, 2024, there was a great turnout at the 2024 Racial Justice Awards Night held at The Estate Banquet & Event Centre in Scarborough. In attendance were many community supporters, civic officials, long-time racial justice warriors, and individuals from diverse ethnic groups.

UARR is grateful for all the sponsors of the Racial Justice Awards Night Celebration. It notes in its email to its supporters on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024, the importance of its sponsors including:

  • United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) of Canada, UFCW, Local 175
  • The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 353
  • Unite Here! Local 75
  • Toronto & York Region Labour Council
  • Canadian Labour Congress
  • The Coalitions of Black Trade Union (CBTUL)

“Your sponsorship plays a vital role in shining a light on individuals and organizations driving equity, justice, and change in our communities. This celebration is more than an event, it’s a movement. Thanks to your support, we’re: honoring changemakers, amplifying unheard voices, and funding initiatives that break down systemic barriers.”

The categories and names of the awards and recipients were:

Racial Justice in Arts: Hannia Cheng

She is an artist and cultural worker who co-founded Unit 270, a DIY gallery and multi-purpose grassroots community hub in Chinatown Centre.

Racial Justice in Labour: Vanessa Story

She is the founder of the Black Youth York Region and co-founder of the York Communities for Public Education coalition.

Racial Justice in Education: Shannon Simpson

She is Senior Director of Indigenous Initiatives at the University of Toronto.

Racial Justice in Environment: Dr. Ingrid Waldron

She is a Professor and HOPE Chair in Peace and Health in the Global and Peace and Social Justice Program in the Faculty of Humanities at McMaster University.

Urban Alliance of Race Relations Agent of Change Award: Kirk Mark

He is the Equity, Diversity and Inclusive Consultant at KIRK Mark & Associates.

Racial Justice in Media: Amanda Parris

She is an award-winning writer, tv host and producer, and former host of CBC Arts Exhibitionist.

Racial Justice in Health: Camille Orridge

She is former CEO of the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network (TCLHIN).

Racial Justice in Government: Amira Elghawaby

She is a journalist and human rights advocate who was appointed in January 2023 as Canada’s Special Representative on Combating Islamophobia.

Racial Justice in Justice: South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario (SALC0)

This legal clinic supports low-income South Asian people in Canada.

The funds raised from the Awards night will be going toward the work of the Diversity Youth Fellowship Program. This innovative and creative program is directly involved in enabling racialized youth to get paid experience working in municipal governments and at various public policy making organizations across Canada.

The performers at the event included: Katheen Zaragosa (a Filipino music performer), Rithika Jeristus & Maya Jeristus (Bharatanatyam dancers) and Yasmin Said (spoken word artist)

UARR is looking forward to its 50th anniversary celebrations in 2025 and shared five of its strategic priorities for the next 10 years including:

  • Employment and economic opportunity: The goal is to foster inclusive workspaces and economic opportunities.
  • Education: The goal is to promote racial equity in education and research.
  • Communication: The goal is to expand public awareness and reach to amplify our stories.
  • Community engagement and outreach: The goal is building community capacity and convening towards change.
  • Truth and reconciliation-relationship building and supporting calls to action. The goal is to strengthen our solidarity and action towards truth and reconciliation.

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Community News

What is it about those short videos that keep us captivated? Oh! Yes! Our short attention span

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2 days ago

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December 19, 2024

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BY KAHA GEDI

As our attention spans decrease, short form videos are becoming more popular. From TikTok, to YouTube Shorts, to Instagram Reels, these “snack sized” videos have positive qualities alongside the bad. Mainly we want to know what makes them so effective, and why are they becoming the go-to choice for both viewers and marketers? In this article, I will be discussing how these videos have received such popularity worldwide.

First, we need to understand what counts as and what is short-form content. According to blog.hubspot.com, “Short-form videos are videos that are less than 60 seconds long.” However, some marketers and content creators agree that short-form videos can be up to 3 minutes. “They are videos that deliver information in a ‘digestible’ format so that viewers can quickly watch and save content if they’re in a hurry or enjoy it.” Now, I’ll talk about the main reasons why these videos are so popular.

First, our attention spans have gone down exponentially. Dr Gloria Mark has written a book called “Attention Span,” and she says her research indicates people’s attention spans have been shrinking over the last 20 years. According to the same article Dr. Mark said that “Back in 2004, we found the average attention span on any screen to be two and a half minutes on average. Throughout the years, it became shorter. So, around 2012, we found it to be 75 seconds. Then in the last five, six years, we found it to average about 47 seconds.” So, it’s notable that our attention spans started out longer but then decreased over time.

Secondly, these videos have become cheaper and easier to make. Unlike long-form videos, which require extensive: planning, editing, and storytelling, short-form videos are simpler. To the point where they can even be shot on a smartphone. For example, DuoLingo, the app that helps learn new languages, went viral on TikTok a long time ago by posting funny, low-budget videos that resonate with millions. Like a video of a DuoLingo plus being: tossed down the stairs, sitting outside on a rainy day, or being soaked by the shower with the title “When you ignore my notifications.”

Lastly, they provide valuable information in a short amount of time, and they are easily accessible. According to a recent Adobe Survey, two in five Americans use TikTok as a search engine, and nearly one in 10 Gen Zeers are more likely to rely on TikTok than Google as a search engine. This isn’t always reliable for real news because anyone can claim to be an expert, and you wouldn’t know if they’re telling the truth. So, even though they give valuable information in a short time, they can also give misinformation or mislead you.

Short-form videos have changed how we watch and learn things. They fit our short attention spans, are easy to make, and share information quickly. Even though they’re fun and helpful, they can also spread false information or leave out important details. Even with these problems, short-form videos are here to stay, so we should use them in proportion, but also enjoy the benefits.

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Community News

Dr. Edward McInnis on the Importance of Preventive Care in Family Medicine

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2 days ago

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December 19, 2024

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Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Preventive care is a cornerstone of modern healthcare, emphasizing the importance of addressing potential health concerns before they escalate into severe conditions. By focusing on proactive measures such as regular screenings, vaccinations, and lifestyle counseling, preventive care offers individuals and communities the opportunity to achieve long-term wellness.

Below, Edward McInnis highlights the transformative potential of prevention in reducing healthcare disparities, alleviating systemic challenges, and ensuring that every individual has the tools and access needed to lead a healthier life.

Understanding Preventive Care in Family Medicine

Preventive care in family medicine focuses on proactive measures to maintain health and prevent illness before it occurs. This approach emphasizes regular health evaluations, screenings, and interventions that identify potential issues early, reducing the likelihood of severe complications. Preventive care fosters long-term well-being by addressing risk factors and promoting healthier lifestyles while minimizing the burden of chronic diseases.

The philosophy behind preventive care aligns with the idea that staying healthy is more effective and less costly than treating illnesses after they arise. Early detection of conditions such as hypertension or high cholesterol allows patients and physicians to manage these issues effectively, preventing them from escalating into more severe health problems. Beyond individual benefits, this care model contributes to healthier communities by reducing the overall demand for healthcare systems.

Benefits of Preventive Care for Individuals and Communities

Preventive care profoundly impacts individuals and the broader community by addressing potential health concerns before they evolve into severe conditions. Early detection through routine screenings can significantly lower the risk of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. This improves individual health outcomes and reduces the emotional and financial toll of managing advanced diseases.

Communities prioritizing preventive care experience a ripple effect of healthier populations and reduced strain on healthcare resources. When more people engage in regular check-ups and adopt healthier habits, the prevalence of preventable conditions drops, creating a collective benefit. Individuals who invest in their health through preventive measures often enjoy longer, more active lives, positively influencing families, workplaces, and society.

The economic advantages of preventive care are undeniable, as early intervention typically costs far less than treating advanced illnesses. Vaccination programs, such as those targeting seasonal flu or childhood diseases, can drastically curb outbreaks, saving lives and reducing medical expenses. These benefits demonstrate how preventive care is a cornerstone of sustainable and effective healthcare systems.

Core Preventive Services in Family Medicine

Family medicine emphasizes various preventive services designed to address health needs across all stages of life. Regular health screenings, such as blood pressure and cholesterol checks, are critical in identifying silent health risks. These assessments provide actionable insights that allow individuals to make timely adjustments to their lifestyles or begin treatment when necessary.

Vaccinations are another cornerstone of preventive care, protecting individuals and communities from infectious diseases. From childhood immunizations to seasonal flu shots, these interventions safeguard personal health and prevent the spread of illnesses within larger populations. Counseling services, including guidance on nutrition, exercise, and stress management, empower patients to take an active role in their long-term well-being.

The Role of Family Physicians in Prevention

Family physicians play a pivotal role in fostering preventive care through their ability to build lasting, trust-based relationships with patients. These relationships enable them to understand not just medical histories but also lifestyle factors, family dynamics, and social determinants of health. This comprehensive knowledge allows physicians to craft personalized preventive strategies that resonate with each patient’s unique circumstances, ensuring a more practical approach to maintaining health.

Beyond individual care, family physicians act as educators, equipping patients with the knowledge to make informed health decisions. Whether discussing the significance of regular screenings or addressing misconceptions about vaccines, their guidance helps patients take ownership of their health.

The continuity of care provided by family physicians also ensures that preventive measures are consistently monitored and adjusted as needed, fostering long-term well-being. Their ability to provide holistic and deeply personalized care sets the foundation for healthier patients and communities.

Challenges in Accessing Preventive Care

Despite its proven benefits, accessing preventive care remains challenging for many individuals and communities. Financial barriers, such as lack of insurance coverage or high out-of-pocket costs, often deter people from seeking preventive services. Additionally, limited awareness about the importance of early detection and health promotion means that some individuals may only prioritize preventive care once a health issue becomes severe.

Geographical disparities also play a significant role in limiting access. Rural and underserved areas frequently face shortages of healthcare providers, making it difficult for residents to receive consistent preventive services. In such regions, innovative approaches like mobile health clinics and telemedicine have emerged as solutions to bridge the gap. Expanding these efforts could help overcome logistical obstacles and ensure that preventive care reaches those most in need.

Cultural factors and mistrust of the healthcare system can further complicate access to preventive services. Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach that includes community engagement, culturally sensitive care, and efforts to build trust between healthcare providers and patients. Strengthening health literacy and facilitating dialogue between healthcare institutions and the communities they serve are also critical steps in overcoming these barriers.

Promoting and Advancing Preventive Care

Advancing preventive care depends on raising awareness and fostering a culture that values proactive health management. Educational campaigns, workplace wellness programs, and school-based health initiatives encourage people to adopt preventive practices. These efforts create an environment where individuals feel empowered to prioritize their well-being, leading to healthier lifestyles and earlier intervention.

The integration of technology is revolutionizing how preventive care is delivered. Wearable devices that track physical activity, heart rate, and sleep patterns provide individuals with real-time data about their health, prompting timely action when irregularities arise. Similarly, data analytics and predictive tools enable healthcare providers to identify at-risk populations and deliver targeted interventions, improving outcomes on a broader scale.

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