COVID-19: Mixed messages on vaccines for racialized Hamilton residents
Community groups want Black and other racialized Hamilton residents to know they can book COVID-19 vaccinations through them no matter their postal code.
That needs to be clear, despite the city's messaging to the contrary, says Ameil Joseph, a member of the Hamilton Vaccine Readiness Network.
What we need to share with people is that it's open to all Black and racialized individuals."
That holds true for a specialized clinic at Restoration House downtown, said Joseph, who's also a McMaster University social work professor.
Last week, the city announced bookings for clinics at Restoration House and FirstOntario Centre prioritized for Black and racialized residents age 18 and older who live in the five hot spot" postal codes.
Those areas - defined as L9C, L8W, L8L, L8N and L9K - have been hit harder by the pandemic, public health says.
In a press release Thursday, the city reiterated the postal code requirement for upcoming prioritized vaccinations at Restoration House (54 Vine St., May 3 to 7, 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m.) and FirstOntario Centre (101 York Blvd., starting May 4 over various hours).
But Sarah Jama, senior program co-ordinator at Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, said the city has given agencies the go-ahead" to book appointments at Restoration House irrespective of postal code.
We understand that the rates of COVID-19 in Black and racialized communities are so high that prioritization is prioritization."
Local public health data show visible minorities account for about half of COVID-19 cases but only make up 19 per cent of Hamilton's population.
In response to the The Spectator's query Thursday, a city spokesperson said Black and other people of colour 18 and older who live in the identified postal codes can book appointments through public health's COVID-19 hotline: 905-974-9848, option 7.
But community health centres and other agencies are also slotting people through their own outreach based on their knowledge of vulnerable and at-risk individuals in the community which may be irrespective of postal code."
It's not clear why the city's public message differs from the direction agencies say they've been given.
Coun. Nrinder Nann, who has pushed for a vaccination effort that prioritizes Black and racialized residents, said Thursday she didn't know people who resided outside of the hot spots could book appointments.
Nann said communications and public health staff have been inundated" during the ongoing pandemic. But I believe that we are at a point of communication failure."
Jama suggested the disconnect may spring from the city's concern about flooding booking platforms, while Joseph said it could relate to trepidation over vaccine supply and racist backlash.
For months, the Hamilton Vaccine Readiness Network pushed the city for a vaccination program that prioritized Black and racialized residents.
Joseph said neither vulnerable racialized residents nor the systemic racism they face are hemmed in exclusively by particular parts of the city. There are less than 50,000 people 18 to 40 who are racialized who are not captured by any other current rollout. So we could potential get everybody if we do this right."
HCCI and a variety of agencies, such as Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre, Refuge: Hamilton Centre for Newcomer Health and Compass Community Health, are booking appointments.
Jama noted a Google Docs form is being used right now, but a more sustainable booking system is in the works. In the meantime, those who want to book can call the agencies for direction.
Teviah Moro is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: tmoro@thespec.com