Today, the City of Toronto announced it is distributing $450,000 to support the Toronto Youth Vaccine Engagement Strategy aimed at increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake among vulnerable youth.
The Toronto Youth Vaccine Engagement Strategy – in partnership with the City and the Toronto Youth Cabinet (TYC) – is part of the City’s COVID-19 Community Mobilization and Engagement Plan, focused on reducing barriers to COVID-19 vaccines among vulnerable youth, and increasing vaccination uptake in equity-deserving communities.
The Toronto Youth Vaccine Engagement Strategy grant, which was awarded to four youth-serving community organizations, will be in place through September 15, 2022 and utilized for youth-centric outreach and engagement activities in focused neighbourhoods. The following agencies were selected as recipients:
The selected organizations will work with the Toronto Youth Vaccine Advisory Committee (TYVAC), as well as with Vaccine Engagement Teams (VETs), to enhance and develop city-wide COVID-19 vaccine engagement strategies with a youth-focused lens.
Further information is available on the City’s COVID-19: City Immunization Program webpage.
Quotes:
“I want to thank all the partners, agencies and staff involved in the allocation of funding for the Toronto Youth Vaccine Engagement Strategy. Hyper-local and targeted engagement in our communities is required and has shown to be effective. I look forward to seeing the outreach and activities at work in our communities to ensure all our youth have the support and resources they need to access the vaccine. This funding will help ensure our success helping young people across Toronto get vaccinated continues.”
– Mayor John Tory
“Toronto’s Youth Vaccine Engagement Strategy is a critical component of our work to remove barriers and make vaccination accessible for our city’s youth. This important work will enable the health, well-being and recovery of our city. Thank you to the Toronto Youth Cabinet, the Toronto Youth Vaccination Advisory Committee and our community partners.”
– Councillor Joe Cressy (Spadina-Fort York), Chair of the Toronto Board of Health
“On behalf of TYVAC, we are excited to see the work of the Toronto Youth Vaccine Engagement Strategy come to life. This important initiative will seek to reach and engage our fellow youth, providing education, accessibility and resources to ensure we are all protected against COVID-19.”
– Samir Janmohamed and Nada Dali, Co-Chairs, Toronto Youth Vaccination Engagement Advisory, and Transit Lead and Director of Policy and Advocacy, Toronto Youth Cabinet
“Youth Vaccine Engagement is a grand teamwork activity taken by the four Quadrant Youth Leaders and ambassadors of Toronto. Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women takes pride in working with the youth team members to accomplish the task of reaching out to the maximum number of youth to meet our collective goals in engaging youth getting vaccinated.”
– Sunder Singh, Executive Director, Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women
“Shakespeare in Action is honoured and excited to be leading the City of Toronto’s Youth Vaccine Engagement Strategy for the West quadrant. As a theatre and arts education company, the pandemic has necessitated we shift our programming and show up for our community in new and innovative ways. This grant will allow us to build on our work and partnerships made through the York Weston Pelham Vaccine Engagement Strategy: growing our ‘perspectives on COVID-19’ spoken word program for youth, facilitating free pop-up gathering spaces for families while providing vaccine information, and teaming up with partners such as Jane Alliance Neighbourhood Service to expand on the great work that’s already been happening over the last year.”
– David di Giovanni, Artistic Director, Shakespeare in Action
“Agincourt Community Services Association (ACSA) is privileged and excited to be the Scarborough Lead for the City of Toronto’s Youth Vaccine Engagement Strategy. ACSA is looking forward to working with Youth Ambassadors, grassroots groups and youth serving organizations to implement innovative approaches to getting young people vaccinated, while at the same time ensuring children and youth are connected to meaningful community supports.”
– Laura Harper, Program Director, Agincourt Community Services Association
“As one of Toronto’s largest social service agencies, we are proud to support the City of Toronto’s Youth Vaccine Engagement Strategy. Vaccinations are vital to protecting youth from COVID-19. We are pleased to be part of this important initiative, which will help improve vaccine access and uptake for vulnerable Toronto youth, by assisting with education and outreach.”
– Maxine Brown, Director of Youth Programs & Supports, WoodGreen Community Services
Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.