Vernon Immigrant Services launches pro-vaccine campaign

The Vernon and District Immigrant and Community Services Society (VDICSS) has launched a social media campaign to increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence with newcomers to Canada.

The campaign, which is supported by Interior Health and the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Society (VDPACS), involves a series of videos in five languages, Punjabi, Mandarin, Arabic, Spanish and English, to address the question, “who or what do you miss?”

The videos, shot at VDPACS, all feature local immigrants, speaking their native dialect as they recall who or what they have missed most during the pandemic. A medical professional follows, speaking the same language, with evidence-based messaging to build awareness and confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine. Viewers are then provided with details on how to register for a jab.

“Many of our clients have had questions about COVID-19, the vaccine, and the orders set in place by the Provincial Health Officer and Health Canada,” said Philipp Gruner, CEO at VDICSS.