South-East Ottawa Community Centre helping OPH run new COVID-19 vaccine hubs

Ottawa Public Health is doling out a new vaccination strategy with the help of the South-East Ottawa Community Centre — a strategy built to address systemic barriers and disparities to vaccine access in selected neighbourhoods.

OPH made the announcement of the new approach on Thursday just as a new detailed report outlining the barriers for vaccine uptake was released.

There could be several reasons why people haven’t received a shot yet, the centre’s executive director Kelli Tonner said.

For example, it could have to do with language and communication barriers, access to a primary caregiver — or one they can trust to have a conversation with — or people who haven’t had a good experience with the local healthcare system.

The approach comes with plans to increase outreach with things like hubs for vaccinations and information, as well as vaccine house calls.

“We want to be there seven days a week — and not just to poke you with the vaccine, but to answer any questions or concerns you might have,” Tonner said. “So, our Ottawa Public Health colleagues are staffing these vaccine clinics [and] our Community Health and Resource Centre colleagues are making sure residents know that these hubs will be made available to them.”

In order to do that, Tonner acknowledges that it’s up to the centre and OPH to take a proactive approach.

“It’s really [about investing] the time, energy and effort to get out in these communities and listen to what people are saying — what their concerns are, what their feelings are — and making sure that we are adjusting our strategies.”

– With files from CityNews Ottawa's Eric O'Brien