Reaching the “Last Mile”: describing community clinics implemented to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Peel region, Canada
Abstract Background COVID-19 hit Canada hard and exacerbated health inequities, notably among ethnoracially minoritized populations. By August 2021, some areas in Peel region (Ontario, Canada) continued to have high COVID-19 infection rates and low COVID-19 vaccine coverage. To increase first dose u...
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23041-3 |
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| author | Jannice So Dannielle Nicholson-Baker Subrana Rahman Nancy Ramuscak Anthony Reid Monali Varia Nazia Peer Elizabeth Estey Noad Sondra Davis Shaza A. Fadel Erica Di Ruggiero |
| author_facet | Jannice So Dannielle Nicholson-Baker Subrana Rahman Nancy Ramuscak Anthony Reid Monali Varia Nazia Peer Elizabeth Estey Noad Sondra Davis Shaza A. Fadel Erica Di Ruggiero |
| author_sort | Jannice So |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background COVID-19 hit Canada hard and exacerbated health inequities, notably among ethnoracially minoritized populations. By August 2021, some areas in Peel region (Ontario, Canada) continued to have high COVID-19 infection rates and low COVID-19 vaccine coverage. To increase first dose uptake, Peel Public Health implemented smaller community-based vaccination clinics in addition to pre-existing mass vaccination (fixed) clinics. This study describes these community clinics and those who received their first dose at a community clinic to determine whether local public health efforts to implement community clinics reached different population groups and whether these community clinics contributed to an increase in uptake of the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines. Methods We conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional study using data from the Ontario COVID-19 vaccination registry (COVaxON). We included eligible Peel residents 12 years and older who received a COVID-19 vaccine within community and fixed clinics between September 2021 and August 2022. Clinics were classified based on clinic type (community/fixed), and location. COVID-19 vaccine uptake for smaller geographic areas designated by postal codes was calculated at the beginning and end of the study period. Clinic and attendee characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results There were 177 community and 11 fixed clinic sites that operated during the study period. Community clinics administered 98,965 doses (27%) of COVID-19 vaccine and fixed clinics administered 264,021 doses (73%). A slightly higher proportion of first doses were administered in community clinics (8.1%) compared to fixed clinics (7.9%) and community clinics saw a higher proportion of first dose recipients from low-coverage areas (23% versus 19% in fixed clinics). Clinics in faith-based organizations, schools and shopping areas administered the most doses among community clinic locations. The absolute increase in first dose vaccine uptake was 11% over the study period. Conclusions Almost 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine were administered in community clinics, which contributed to increased overall vaccine coverage in Peel region. A slightly higher proportion of first doses were administered in community clinics compared to fixed clinics and a higher proportion of doses to residents of low-coverage areas. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f4babcbdff3f4cacb5312ea090e6b58a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-f4babcbdff3f4cacb5312ea090e6b58a2025-08-20T02:03:34ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-05-0125111010.1186/s12889-025-23041-3Reaching the “Last Mile”: describing community clinics implemented to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Peel region, CanadaJannice So0Dannielle Nicholson-Baker1Subrana Rahman2Nancy Ramuscak3Anthony Reid4Monali Varia5Nazia Peer6Elizabeth Estey Noad7Sondra Davis8Shaza A. Fadel9Erica Di Ruggiero10Peel Public HealthPeel Public HealthCentre for Global Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of TorontoPeel Public HealthLuxOR Operational Research Unit, Operational Centre Brussels, Médecins Sans FrontièresPeel Public HealthPeel Public HealthPeel Public HealthPeel Public HealthCentre for Global Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of TorontoCentre for Global Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of TorontoAbstract Background COVID-19 hit Canada hard and exacerbated health inequities, notably among ethnoracially minoritized populations. By August 2021, some areas in Peel region (Ontario, Canada) continued to have high COVID-19 infection rates and low COVID-19 vaccine coverage. To increase first dose uptake, Peel Public Health implemented smaller community-based vaccination clinics in addition to pre-existing mass vaccination (fixed) clinics. This study describes these community clinics and those who received their first dose at a community clinic to determine whether local public health efforts to implement community clinics reached different population groups and whether these community clinics contributed to an increase in uptake of the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines. Methods We conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional study using data from the Ontario COVID-19 vaccination registry (COVaxON). We included eligible Peel residents 12 years and older who received a COVID-19 vaccine within community and fixed clinics between September 2021 and August 2022. Clinics were classified based on clinic type (community/fixed), and location. COVID-19 vaccine uptake for smaller geographic areas designated by postal codes was calculated at the beginning and end of the study period. Clinic and attendee characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results There were 177 community and 11 fixed clinic sites that operated during the study period. Community clinics administered 98,965 doses (27%) of COVID-19 vaccine and fixed clinics administered 264,021 doses (73%). A slightly higher proportion of first doses were administered in community clinics (8.1%) compared to fixed clinics (7.9%) and community clinics saw a higher proportion of first dose recipients from low-coverage areas (23% versus 19% in fixed clinics). Clinics in faith-based organizations, schools and shopping areas administered the most doses among community clinic locations. The absolute increase in first dose vaccine uptake was 11% over the study period. Conclusions Almost 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine were administered in community clinics, which contributed to increased overall vaccine coverage in Peel region. A slightly higher proportion of first doses were administered in community clinics compared to fixed clinics and a higher proportion of doses to residents of low-coverage areas.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23041-3COVID-19COVID-19 vaccinesMass vaccinationImmunization programsCommunity health servicesAccess to care |
| spellingShingle | Jannice So Dannielle Nicholson-Baker Subrana Rahman Nancy Ramuscak Anthony Reid Monali Varia Nazia Peer Elizabeth Estey Noad Sondra Davis Shaza A. Fadel Erica Di Ruggiero Reaching the “Last Mile”: describing community clinics implemented to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Peel region, Canada BMC Public Health COVID-19 COVID-19 vaccines Mass vaccination Immunization programs Community health services Access to care |
| title | Reaching the “Last Mile”: describing community clinics implemented to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Peel region, Canada |
| title_full | Reaching the “Last Mile”: describing community clinics implemented to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Peel region, Canada |
| title_fullStr | Reaching the “Last Mile”: describing community clinics implemented to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Peel region, Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reaching the “Last Mile”: describing community clinics implemented to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Peel region, Canada |
| title_short | Reaching the “Last Mile”: describing community clinics implemented to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Peel region, Canada |
| title_sort | reaching the last mile describing community clinics implemented to increase covid 19 vaccine uptake in peel region canada |
| topic | COVID-19 COVID-19 vaccines Mass vaccination Immunization programs Community health services Access to care |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23041-3 |
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