Covid-19 Vaccination Project

The Covid-19 pandemic had a huge impact on the African community in the UK. There was hesitancy within the community to take the covid vaccine due to lack of trust and myths around the pandemic. To address the situation and understand the barriers from the African community, CAN organised a Zoom vaccine hesitancy Community Conversation in March 2021 with breakout rooms in 7 languages and attendance was in excess of 100 people.

CAN was the first community organisation in Hackney to facilitate a vaccine pop-up clinic in April 2021. CAN have since supported 13 other vaccine clinics which vaccinated over 600 people in different wards in Hackney and City. CAN has worked in partnership with SWIM and the North East London City and Hackney Clinical Commissioning Group to pilot 4 community pop-up vaccination clinics in Hackney. These clinics in April and June 2021 at Halkevi and Pembury were a success.

CAN has worked with Hackney Public Health, Hackney Volunteer Centre and Hackney CVS (through Hackney Giving) to support 3 vaccination clinics at Gillet Square, 1 vaccination clinic at St Leonard's hospital, 2 vaccine clinics at Ridley market, 2 clinics at Woodberry Down and 1 clinic at Springfield. CAN produced fliers and videos in different African languages talking about Covid 19.