A Collaborative Partnership
During the month of May, in partnership with Eastern Health and the Downtown Healthcare Collaborative, Choices for Youth (CFY) was able to offer an on-site vaccination clinic for youth and young moms.
A main component to CFY’s mission is to ensure that young people have access to wrap-around support, including healthcare. The need for healthcare services have only been amplified since the global pandemic began. The success of this opportunity for youth and young moms to receive their vaccination speaks to the confidence and determination of young people to thrive beyond the pandemic.
85 youth and young moms received vaccinations, with many more receiving information and resources to help increase vaccine confidence.
CFY is continuously working to identify gaps in services for youth and young families in Newfoundland and Labrador, including seeking innovative collaborations to better support young people. The partnerships that made the on-site vaccination clinic possible are just one example of our ongoing efforts to find solutions to those gaps.
Vaccine Confidence
With our partners, and through reliance on readily available vaccine information and data, CFY developed a vaccine confidence communications campaign as a mark of advocacy for providing resources and materials to youth, with the goal of helping raise awareness and build confidence in the COVID-19 vaccination. Our aim is to provide materials that provide relevant information on the benefits of vaccination, as well as addressing common questions and concerns among our youth.
Our vaccine confidence campaign included information that was shared on social media platforms, given as handouts to youth on-site for CFY programming, made available on screens at CFY site, and was accessible to youth during the vaccination clinic and in the days that followed to continue build confidence once vaccinations are complete.
Meeting Youth Where They Are
To echo the mission of our organization, our aim is to continuously provide meaningful engagement with young people - for pandemic healthcare and beyond. Our partnership with Eastern Health and the Downtown Healthcare Collaborative is one that reinforces these sentiments; the vaccination clinic is one of many ways we provide wrap-around support, and continue to provide a safe space for young people.
Watch the short video below to take a look at our on-site COVID-19 vaccination clinic. Thanks to our partners at Eastern Health and the Downtown Healthcare Collaborative for their help and support; thanks to our many staff who helped to coordinate the day; and thanks to the 85 youth and young moms who stepped up and got their vaccinations. This is just one way that we can help protect ourselves and one another in the fight against COVID-19.
How to Get a COVID-19 Vaccination
In Newfoundland and Labrador, anyone above the age of 12 can now schedule their COVID-19 vaccination. Visit the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador website here and follow the online prompts to schedule your vaccination.
If you are a young person aged 16-29 and you would like help booking your vaccination, or if you need support, contact the CFY Outreach and Youth Engagement Centre at 709-754-3047.