NCCIH

Promoting Vaccine Confidence amongst First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples during the time of COVID-19

December 2021

On March 11th, 2020, a global pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 brought public attention to the ongoing socio-economic and health inequities experienced by First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples which place them at higher risk for contracting the disease and having worse outcomes. It also highlighted how Indigenous Peoples’ history of pandemics, which resulted in trauma and mistrust with the healthcare system and medical interventions, influences their confidence in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

Based partly on the January 12, 2021 webinar, Vaccine Hesitancy and First Nations, Inuit and Métis populations: Potential implications during the COVID-19 pandemic, presented by Dr. Sarah Minwanimad Funnell, this fact sheet explores some of the specific challenges and opportunities for vaccine uptake amongst First Nations, Inuit and Métis populations. It includes strategies that can be employed by healthcare providers as well as community-centred practices underway to promote vaccine confidence amongst Indigenous populations across Canada.