Dear Students / Families:
As COVID-19 vaccines roll out to more and more Northerners, there is lots of information – and misinformation – being shared about these vaccines. Knowing that those aged 12-17 are newly eligible for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the GNWT wants to offer youth the opportunity to have their vaccine questions answered directly by one of the territory’s top doctors, Dr. AnneMarie Pegg.
Between May 19-24, 2021, the GNWT is calling out for COVID-19 vaccine questions from youth across the territory. Questions will remain anonymous and can be submitted by:
· E-mail at healthpromotion@gov.nt.ca
· Private message on @ourGNWT or @NTHSSA Facebook pages
· Private message on @NTHSSAcares Instagram page
Questions will be collected throughout the week and answered by Dr. Pegg in video format on May 25, 2021 before roll out begins to other NWT communities. The final video will be shared directly with the individuals who submitted questions as well as promoted on GNWT and NTHSSA social media channels. Efforts will be made to have the video translated into the Indigenous languages of the NWT.
Parents, guardians, teachers, and other adults are welcome to submit questions on behalf of youth in their lives, and are encouraged to talk about the COVID-19 vaccine at home or at school. The GNWT is working hard to ensure everyone who is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine feels informed enough to decide whether it is right for them – including our young people.
Resources that can be used for discussions about COVID-19 vaccines include:
Web links:
- Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccines
- NWT COVID-19 Vaccine Information and Resources
- COVID-19 Vaccines for Children: Deciding to vaccinate
- A Parent’s Guide to Vaccination
- Teens, Meet Vaccines
Videos:
- NWT COVID-19 Explainer Video
- COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics in the NWT Video