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Unique Youth and Family-Focused Clinic Helped Build Vaccine Confidence in Peel Region

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the communities served by William Osler Health System (Osler) have been among the hardest hit in Canada, with Brampton consistently recording some of the highest infection rates in the country. In this area, the COVID-19 vaccine represents more than an eventual return to 'normal'; unquestionably, it's saving lives.

Out of necessity, Osler's vaccine response has been agile, with clinical leaders mobilizing quickly to get needles into the arms of as many staff, physicians and community members as possible.

In December 2020, as soon as approved COVID-19 vaccines became available, Osler was among the first hospitals in the province to open a vaccine clinic in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Health. As the supply of vaccines increased and eligibility evolved, Osler partnered with public health units and other community organizations to improve access to those residing in 'COVID-19 Hot Spot' communities in Brampton and North Etobicoke. When eligibility further expanded to include youth 12-17 years of age living, working or attending school in these communities, Osler seized an opportunity to improve vaccine uptake by adopting a family-focused solution.

In May 2021, Osler worked quickly to develop a temporary Youth Pad at its COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at Century Gardens Recreation Centre in Brampton, where youth and their families could get their vaccines together. It not only contributed to Brampton's vaccination rate success; it set a new standard for vaccine clinics.

With the goal of providing a unique youth-focused vaccine clinic, Patricia Mosnia, Osler's Director of Pharmacy and Clinical Director of Oncology and Palliative Care, and Cathy Renaud, Osler's Director of Planning and Programming, engaged youth groups and community partners to help develop a plan. "We know that vaccination is vital to ending the COVID-19 pandemic and reaching our youth is an important piece of that puzzle," said Patricia Mosnia. "Our goal was to make the Youth Pad feel like less of a clinical environment and more like a place young people are comfortable, and we are proud to have achieved that."

Working closely with the BAPS Charities Youth Group and the South Asian COVID-19 Youth Task Force, Osler gained key insights into what would most appeal to Brampton's youth. Furniture and other items generously donated by IKEA Canada allowed the team to create living room spaces – also called "pods" – for youth and families, with safe games, colouring activities and a photo booth, complemented by music in the background. Local family physicians and paediatricians were on site to administer the vaccine and students were employed as "navigators" to support young people and their families.

"It was fast and easy! Really like the pods! Felt like going to a patio and the appetizer was a Pfizer vaccine!!" said Youth Pad patient Olivia De Lewis.

Between June 1 and June 25, 2021, Osler's youth-focused COVID-19 vaccine clinic, the first of its kind in Peel Region, successfully administered more than 3,000 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, the only COVID-19 vaccine authorized for youth 12-17 years. This played an important role in helping to build vaccine confidence within the Brampton community, while supporting young people to resume normal activities and prepare for a return to school in September. Parent Uthayaselvi Arulgnanapawan commended the initiative, stating it was important because "they focus on what [the] kid's needs are, which is really nice, especially during this time."

From December 2020 to July 2021, Osler administered more than 270,000 COVID-19 vaccines across its COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics in Brampton and North Etobicoke, with the Youth Pad playing a pivotal role in supporting vaccination success.

"Working at the Youth Pad was an opportunity of a lifetime. We helped make a real difference during a very challenging time for so many," said Cathy Renaud.