Vaccine bus aims to boost immunization uptake among young adults at U of C
An effort to get more young adults fully immunized against COVID-19 rolled onto the University of Calgary campus Wednesday.
Staff at the mobile vaccination bus hope to make it easier to get the shot for the 20 to 29 year old demographic, the age range that has the lowest vaccine uptake in Alberta.
Although young adults currently make up the largest share of active cases in the province, many haven't made getting immunized a priority, experts say.
"It could be lack of transportation, work schedule and appointments don't line up with the work schedule. Sometimes, it's pure laziness," said 19 to Zero community outreach manager Margaret Pateman.
While there are vaccine procrastinators, Pateman also says there are still many people who are vaccine hesitant.
"It's difficult because there's so much misinformation online, so we really try hard to get that correct data and that correct information in the right hands," she said.
Nearly 70 per cent of eligible Albertans are fully immunized against COVID-19, but barely 56 per cent of people between 20 and 29 years old have received both doses.
"For me, at least, the hesitancy comes from the Moderna vaccine and its, like, complications with... I think it's with clogging the arteries," said Michael Wang, a University of Calgary student who has not received his COVID-19 vaccine.
"But in general, I would say that I would be open to getting the vaccine as long as I get more clear indicators that they're more safe.”
The university is not mandating COVID-19 vaccines, but people who are unwilling or unable to be immunized must take rapid tests twice every week on campus.
The bus is also an option for international students to get the vaccine.
"I feel much safer for other people, because my roommate is actually a severe asthmatic and she already has her vaccine and I do not, so if I got (COVID-19), it would be really bad for her," said Reese Williams, a student who received her first dose on Wednesday.
She says the vaccine isn't easily accessible in Thailand, where she was previously going to school.
"It's super convenient (in Calgary). I live right there, so I just walked out of my building and I'm here.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Ukrainian child asylum seekers in St. John’s get class of their own
Roughly 50 children will gathered in a St. John’s classroom for the first time on Saturday for unique lessons on Ukrainian language, culture and history.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
A fight to protect the dignity of Michelangelo's David raises questions about freedom of expression
Michelangelo's David has been a towering figure in Italian culture since its completion in 1504. But in the current era of the quick buck, curators worry the marble statue's religious and political significance is being diminished.