The COVID-19 pandemic has been a difficult time for all. Many youths have also been impacted, as they continue to adjust to online school, work and activities. In order to keep them safe and healthy, there is an urgency to get them vaccinated. However, teens need a place where they can feel safe and comfortable to receive their vaccine.
On June 1, 2021, William Osler Health System opened the first of its kind Youth Pad in the Region of Peel at the Century Gardens Recreation Centre for those aged 12 to 17. The Youth Pad is a COVID-19 vaccine clinic that provides an interactive, safe and relaxed environment for eligible teens to receive the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine.
This Youth Pad was created as an environment to meet the unique needs of this age group. It was designed, developed and set up with the direction and help from the youth volunteers of BAPS Charities.
Recently, BAPS Charities volunteers also dedicated more than 4,400 hours of volunteer services to support a pop-up vaccine clinic at the BAPS Charities location in Toronto which vaccinated more than 21,000 people. Afterwards, the BAPS youth volunteers were approached by William Osler Health System to come up with a plan where youth can come into a family-friendly environment to receive their vaccination.
Yogesh Patel, President of BAPS Charites Canada said, “BAPS Charities truly believes that vaccination is key in defeating this pandemic. By helping to create this Youth Pad, we’re ensuring that our community has ease of access to the much-needed vaccine. In addition, this Youth Pad will help build vaccine confidence among our community’s youngest people and their families who require a setting where they feel safe and comfortable.”
