Experts agree that more people need to be vaccinated to avoid a recurrence of a pandemic with devastating consequences.

Here are some ways Alberta businesses and community organizations can make the COVID-19 vaccine more accessible and persuade indecisive people to roll up their sleeves:

Shoot in the comfort of your home

Daniel Boissoneau received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at his home in Edmonton last week. His wife was sitting nearby and his 6-year-old daughter peeked from the stairs.

Even after contracting COVID-19 in December, Boissoneau still hesitated. However, driven by his mother, and the possibility that vaccination would help his career choice as a courier, helped him make this decision.

“The advantages almost outweigh the disadvantages,” he said.

And the option of letting him shoot at home makes it easier.

The CEO of Canada Homecare Group, Dr. Jennifer Njenga, is a medical professional team based in Edmonton. The team provides patients with after-get off work medical services at home. She said that the option of vaccinating at home has convinced people of all ages. vaccination.

“We have some elderly people taking oxygen at home. They said they just failed to complete the vaccine,” Njenga said.

“So we have posted this news and said,’Look, we can come to you.’ When they hear our news, they will call us and say,’Hey, can you vaccinate me?”

Watch | Get vaccinated in the comfort of your home:

A recent poll showed that Alberta’s hesitation on vaccines is twice the national average. Some companies and organizations are trying to make the COVID-19 vaccine more accessible and educate those who are unwilling to roll up their sleeves: 2:11

Listen to the voices of friends and family

Since the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine in Alberta, politicians such as Governor Jason Kenny, Secretary of Health Taylor Sandro and experts such as Alberta Chief Health Officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw have encouraged Albertans vaccination. For many people, this information is very convincing.

But for others, directly listening to the opinions of people they know and trust has a greater impact.

The Pan-African non-profit organization Africa Center in Edmonton has produced an online video to let people know how easy and safe it is to get vaccinated when they open their own vaccination clinic in May.

Sharif Haji, Executive Director of the Africa Center, said: “You have natural community influencers and leaders. So these are the people we use to pass on the message.”

Since the start of vaccination in May, about 50 people have been vaccinated at the Vaccination Clinic in the African Center every Friday.

Free food and temporary clinic

Earlier this month, the Alberta Healthy Community Action Association, a charity that works with Albertans to build communities and empower different groups to improve the health and well-being of communities, was held near Queen Mary Park in Edmonton Barbecue and temporary clinic.

“From our perspective, the clinic was very successful, with 80 jabs on the arm,” said Gail Kesslar, project manager of the Edmonton COVID-19 Rapid Response Partnership.

The Africa Center also provides free food to increase the fun of trading. Part of its COVID-19 response is to provide a variety of cultural foods to the food basket. The vaccine clinic is held on the same day that the food basket is scheduled to be picked up every week.

“so [people say] ‘Well, I’m here to eat, but I can get vaccinated there too,'” Haji said.

Free ride to the vaccine

Haji said that for many Albertans, the inability to use private vehicles may be a barrier to obtaining the COVID-19 vaccine.

But there is an application that can do this.

He said: “If someone doesn’t want to take the risk of taking public transportation and is unable to drive, we will provide Uber ride-hailing services so that people can come to get vaccinated.”

“This is important. Just like the small amount of resources you put there can not only save a person, but… those who might reach that person. It’s a way of alleviating some obstacles.”

The Africa Center is one of the 11 organizations that make up the Edmonton COVID-19 Rapid Response Collaboration.

Kesslar said these agencies worked with 211 Alberta (the province’s community helpline) to use Uber code promotions to connect approximately 20 temporary clinic participants to the service.

Newcomer social gathering

Sophie Zunamu is the organizer of Francophonie Albertaine Plurielle (FRAP), and she hopes that her event will give French-speaking black women a chance to communicate with other new mothers and talk about vaccines while the children are playing in the spray park.

Zunamu said before an event held at the Evanmore School in southeastern Edmonton on July 23: “This seminar aims to free new French-speaking women from the isolation after a long period of imprisonment.”

“We believe that organizing outdoor seminars to increase women’s confidence in vaccines and comply with public health measures is an unusual way, but it is also a wise way.”

The organization stated that 50 women are expected to participate in the event.