CHRONIC AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES
BEST AND PROMISING PRACTICES IN PROMOTING VACCINE UPTAKE AND CONFIDENCE AMONG FIRST NATIONS, INUIT, AND MÉTIS POPULATIONS Prepared by Regine Halseth
Vaccines are an important tool in disease prevention. Nevertheless, vaccine coverage across First Nations, Inuit, and Métis populations can often be lower than non-Indigenous populations due to structural, social, and interpersonal factors, which can result in health inequities. As such, eliminating barriers to vaccine uptake is an important strategy for reducing health inequalities among Indigenous 1 populations. This fact sheet presents several examples of Indigenous-led programs that have shown some success in promoting vaccine uptake among Indigenous populations across diverse contexts, with the goal of highlighting best and promising
1
practices. Efforts were made to ensure the examples profiled here are inclusive, being mindful of the need to include First Nations, Inuit, and Métis populations from different geographies across Canada; initiatives that focus on both childhood and adult age groups; as well as initiatives targeted at preventing different types of diseases. Vaccine programs were identified primarily through a search of the Internet, with an initial focus on programs where sufficient information was publicly available, including about key partners, implementation details, and metrics of success. This search revealed gaps in information across the various initiatives, particularly around metrics of
success and implementation, as well as limited Inuit and Métis initiatives and initiatives outside the context of COVID-19. As a result, the search strategy was expanded to include contact with some researchers who have expertise related to vaccination in Indigenous contexts to help identify other successful vaccination programs. Initiative leaders were also contacted to fill information gaps, where necessary, as well as to verify and approve content. Despite attempting to achieve diversity, there continues to be limited information for Inuit and Métis initiatives, as well as initiatives outside of the COVID-19 context.
The term ‘Indigenous’ is used throughout this fact sheet to refer collectively to First Nations Peoples, Inuit, and Métis Peoples, as defined under Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution Act of 1982. When referring to a specific Indigenous group, the terms “First Nations”, “Inuit”, and “Métis” are used where relevant.
sharing knowledge · making a difference partager les connaissances · faire une différence ᖃᐅᔨᒃᑲᐃᖃᑎᒌᓃᖅ · ᐱᕚᓪᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ