Vaccination popup clinic for Black Mississauga residents opening soon

A COVID-19 vaccination popup clinic for Peel residents who identify as Black is starting Saturday, May 15, at Bramalea Civic Centre.

“We understand many people from the Black, African and Caribbean communities are hesitant and even resistant to being vaccinated,” said Angela Carter, Executive Director, Roots Community Services.

“Our role is to provide factual information to help community members make informed decisions to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. If they choose the vaccine, we want to make it as easy as possible for them to get the shot.” 

The clinic will provide a positive vaccination environment to those who identify as Black (e.g., Black-Canadian, African, Caribbean, Afro-Latin, Afro-Indigenous etc.) and live in Brampton and Mississauga’s Malton neighbourhood.

The positive environment involves the inclusion of Black staff and volunteers including vaccinators. The clinic will also prominently feature culturally relevant music. Community organizations will be doing community outreach to support vaccine confidence and help residents with booking.

About 14,000 doses of the vaccine will be available at the civic centre, located at 150 Central Park Dr. in Brampton, from May 15 to June 11.

All Peel residents 18 years of age and older who identify as Black (e.g., Black-Canadian, African, Caribbean, Afro-Latin, Afro-Indigenous etc.) and live in Brampton or Malton (L4T, L6P, L6R, L6S, L6T, L6V, L6W, L6X, L6Y, L6Z, L7A postal codes) are eligible.

People who meet the eligibility criteria can book a vaccination appointment by going to rootscs.org/covid-19.

“The Black Physicians Association of Ontario has a mandate to offer a culturally appropriate vaccine experience for all Ontarians who identify as Black,” said Dr. Ato Sekyi-Otu, Peel lead for the Black Health Vaccine Initiative.

“By improving access to the vaccines, educating individuals and improving the confidence and belief in the vaccines, we can reduce the high rate of vaccine hesitancy in the Black community”.

The clinic is a collaboration among Roots Community Services, Wellfort Community Health Services, Black Health Task Force of Peel, Black Health Alliance, Black Physicians Association of Ontario, Region of Peel Public Health and the Ontario Ministry of Health.