The Role of Youth in Canada’s Vaccine Rollout
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This summer, things are slowly getting back to normal as Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues and more people are getting the jab every day. Canada is now a leading country when it comes to population percentage with at least one dose. It’s important to recognize where youth fit into Canada’s growing success with the vaccine. Young Canadians have played a crucial role in the COVID-19 vaccination plan by mobilizing the vaccine rollout on social media, signing up to be vaccinated, and working in jobs getting others vaccinated. Despite the unique challenges youth have faced throughout this pandemic, young people are demonstrating the power in youth engagement through their involvement in the vaccine rollout. Let’s talk about it.
Young people have been on the receiving end of ongoing COVID blame
Since the start of the pandemic, we’ve seen young people be the subject of criticism and blame for not listening to COVID-19 restrictions and thus accelerating the spread of the virus. People in younger age groups have repeatedly tested positive more than other demographics, and in response, many older people in positions of power — like politicians and educational institution heads — have blamed this on partying, excessive gatherings and overall carelessness on the part of youth. COVID-19 fatigue is real, and young people have been uniquely impacted by the pandemic: faced with flawed online education, job losses and overall anxiety brought on by this unprecedented time. However, there’s not much evidence to suggest that young people break COVID rules more than older people. What we do know, though, is that workplace cases have been a major contributor to the spread of the virus, and many young people are working at in-person jobs — like service or retail — where the risk of spread is higher. Young people have been notable victims of the pandemic because we are in precarious positions and are therefore more at risk, not because we are irresponsible.
Youth are flooding vaccination sites
Once Canada’s vaccination rollout went underway, many young people have been keen to get it. The cumulative number of Canadians vaccinated between the age of 18-29 is quickly catching up to other age groups. As of writing this, it has surpassed the amount for people ages 30-39 and those ages 70-79. This data shows young people’s strong willingness to get vaccinated, despite not having been eligible for the vaccine for as long. Whether it’s thanks to tech-savviness allowing youth to navigate online vaccine portals, or their eagerness to get back to normal, young people have been showing up to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Young Canadians are helping to distribute the vaccine
Along with getting vaccinated, young people have been caregivers and first responders during the pandemic. According to the most recent data from the Canadian Nurses Association, nursing roles are increasingly being filled by Canada’s youth. As a result, many nurses and healthcare workers giving the vaccine are young people. Youth are also mobilizing the vaccine movement on social media, by posting to Instagram, TikTok and Twitter to alert others once they’ve been inoculated. Young people are the largest demographic on social media, and with the popularization of vaccine posts, youth have increased online vaccine visibility by making it a celebratory event, and in turn, contributing to less vaccine hesitancy.
Recognizing the power of youth
Most Gen Z and Millennial Canadians report that COVID-19 has impacted their lives in some way, with the majority of them saying the greatest impact has been on their emotional health and well being, according to a recent study conducted by Apathy Is Boring in partnership with the Environics Institute for Survey Research. The vaccine has brought hope to young people that better days are coming, and despite their continual struggles with this virus, youth are stepping forward and mobilizing the movement to get Canada vaccinated. Young people care about social issues and value community well-being, and this is apparent in our support of Canada’s vaccine rollout. It’s important to recognize the power youth have in movements such as this and give young people credit where it’s due.
