Today, Mayor John Tory led City Council in acknowledging the work and impact of the City of Toronto’s Vaccine Engagement Teams (VETs) and community ambassadors during a special presentation at the City Council meeting.
Mayor Tory, Councillor Joe Cressy (Spadina-Fort York), Chair of the Board of Health and Members of Council welcomed more than 100 community ambassadors to City Hall Council Chamber to recognize the success and impact of the work of VETs and ambassadors.
A key component of the City’s COVID-19 Community Mobilization and Engagement Plan, VETs have connected with more than 1.5 million community members since April 2021, to help reduce barriers to COVID-19 vaccines and increase vaccine confidence, access and uptake among equity-deserving communities across Toronto. VETs operate through 17 geographic and population-based consortiums made up of more than 200 health, community and faith-based organizations. The consortiums use a variety of strategies to increase vaccine confidence and access, with a focus on equity-based engagement and mobilization.
More than 600 community ambassadors work across the city to provide information about vaccination options and resources, addressing hesitancy and inspiring confidence in vaccines. Local ambassadors reflect the diversity in culture, race and language of Toronto communities and facilitate targeted outreach using personal networks in the neighbourhoods where they work and live.
Ambassadors have spent more than 46,000 hours conducting outreach in 43 languages using a wide range of engagement activities including approximately 1,300 door-to-door visits, 2,200 phone calls, 1,600 online social media campaigns or virtual events, 4,900 engagements supporting individuals navigating the vaccine registration system and finding a vaccine clinic in their neighborhood and 500 engagements with people experiencing homelessness. More information about the work and impact of VETs is available on the COVID-19: Vaccine Engagement Teams Updates webpage: www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/c
A recording of the presentation can be viewed on the City’s YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/TorontoCityCou
Quotes:
“On behalf of the City, I am so pleased to extend my appreciation to the Vaccine Engagement Teams and community ambassadors today. This work over the last year has played and continues to play a huge part in getting our communities vaccinated, ensuring the health and well-being of our city as a whole. They have helped us achieve world-leading vaccination rates in our city and their important work will continue over the coming months, as we work to help more residents get vaccinated and protect our progress. Thank you, community agencies and ambassadors, for all of your work and for making a tremendous difference in your community every single day.”
– Mayor John Tory
“The work achieved through our City’s Vaccine Engagement Teams and ambassadors has truly made the world of a difference for our equity-deserving communities. Local, trusted ambassadors provide information, access and resources directly to their neighbors in need. Time and time again, they are the difference-makers in assisting a fellow community member get their vaccine to protect themselves and their community. Thank you sincerely for your important work in increasing vaccine equity, removing barriers and hesitancy and ensuring the health and recovery of our city.”
– Councillor Joe Cressy (Spadina-Fort York), Chair of the Board of Health
Source City of Toronto
Leave a Reply