August 3, 2021 - With support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), researchers and staff from the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH) and the Science Communication Graduate Program will be travelling across Northern Ontario this September to enhance confidence in vaccination use with workplaces and communities.
Although many individuals have received their COVID-19 vaccinations, some remain hesitant and have questions. “Vaccine confidence has real implications to the health and safety of workplaces and communities,” acknowledges Dr. Chantal Barriault, Director of the Science Communication Graduate Program.
This $50,000 grant allows for 1) the development of evidence-based materials and resources and 2) for a team to travel to remote and northern communities to engage workers and community members in conversation around COVID-19 risk mitigation and to encourage confidence in the efficacy and safety of Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccination program.
“Northern Ontario has a unique culture, and the concerns and questions Northern Ontarians have may not reflect the concerns of other Ontarians. Sharing and exchanging health and safety information with people living in Northern Ontario is a core mission of CROSH; we are excited to reconnect with communities and better understand their concerns and choices,” says Dr. Sandra Dorman, Director, CROSH.
Researchers, students, and staff from CROSH and the Science Communication Graduate Program will be traveling to interested workplaces and communities across Northern Ontario using the CROSH Mobile Research Lab, which is custom-designed to conduct occupational health and safety outreach and research.
Vice-President of Research, Dr. Tammy Eger says: “CROSH has over 10 years of experience connecting and engaging with Northern Ontario workplaces and communities, and Laurentian University’s Science Communication Graduate Program is world-renowned for training professional science communicators; they are ideally positioned to conduct this important work.”
For anyone interested in having the team visit their workplace, please contact: croshtech@laurentian.ca