Local group awarded $25,000 by Ottawa to boost vaccine uptake in Calgary’s South Asian community
The Indian Society of Calgary is taking it on itself to ensure all members of Alberta’s South Asian community are getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
The local organization received $25,000 in funding from the federal government to spread the word about the importance of getting immunized against COVID-19.
The society says computer literacy is one of the challenges members face as many of their elders do not have social media or access to online information about the importance of vaccines or where to get them.
An even bigger challenge is language, especially for those who do not speak English. The society will be using all six major languages from South East Asia to guarantee maximum reach out to the diaspora in Calgary.
That’s why the society is using the federal funding to help reach people in all possible ways.
Twenty finalists were selected by the federal government through the Vaccine Community Innovation Challenge. The Calgary organization was the only grant recipient in Alberta.
The Indian Society of Calgary will undertake a 12-week project of creating a series of educational videos to be used as resources among community members as well as galvanizing community leaders and media personalities to help push the message of getting immunized.
The challenge encouraged groups and individuals to find innovative ways to promote vaccine confidence in different communities.
The Indian Society of Calgary has 14,000 members.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.