A newly released map reveals significant differences in vaccination rates across Ottawa's neighbourhoods, which health officials say comes down to inequitable access, a lack of trust and mixed messages.
One-quarter of the neighbourhood s residents are single parents, many with school-age children who are suddenly home indefinitely.
Sumaiya Hirsi, 11, worried about infecting her family after two classmates tested positive for COVID-19 at the end of March.(Jean Delisle/CBC)
Sumaiya Hirsi, 11, hasn t attended class since March 29, when her entire Grade 5 class at Sawmill Creek Elementary School was sent home after two students tested positive for COVID-19.
Hirsi, who shares a four-bedroom rowhouse on Bridle Path Drive with her mother, her aunt and four older siblings, worried about infecting her family. I had to stay upstairs until I got my test [results] back. I could have infected my mom and her daycare. My siblings all work, said Hirsi, who normally shares a bed with her mother, a child-care worker.
The impact of COVID-19 on immigrants and racialized communities in Ottawa was based on a virtual community dialogue event hosted by The Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership (OLIP) and funded in part by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Sociodemographic data shows that racialized communities are over-represented among those who have tested positive to COVID-19. But why is this the case?
This is the question the community dialogue group discussions sought to answer. In addition, OLIP aimed to understand the best way to protect the community from the spread of the virus. The following are some of the findings.
Affected communities may face hardships when it comes to social aspects that largely impact people’s health and wellbeing. These include aspects such as employment, housing, transportation, racism, discrimination and access to healthcare.