Cambs Youth Panel helps combat Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy among young people in Cambridgeshire
Cambs Youth Panel is encouraging young people to get their Covid-19 vaccinations.
The panel is known for rolling out computers to disadvantaged young people throughout the pandemic, but is now lending its support to drive up vaccination rates in the city from 69 per cent to above the national average of 83 per cent.
National statistics show eight per cent of those aged 16-29 show vaccine hesitancy, compared to five per cent in those aged 30-49 and two per cent in the over-50s.
Under the banner ‘ProjectCammunity’, the youth panel team will use their relationships with schools, families and young people to promote reliable, understandable information and to answer the questions that are causing the greatest concerns.
It is undertaking a survey of young people in the city to find out why vaccine uptake has been lower here than anticipated.
Panel founder Phil Priestley said: “Of course we are not experts on virus transmission, vaccination, or variations of Covid – but we have pledged our support to help people get answers to the questions that matter from the experts who really do know the science on this.”
Cambs Youth Panel member Molly Fay added: “We want to take the time to listen and learn why people haven’t gone about getting their vaccine in order to improve immunity against Covid-19 in these difficult times.”
Visit projectcammunity.co.uk or the ProjectCammunity social media channels.
Covid-19 vaccinations are now available to those aged 5-12 via booking, and to over-12s on a walk-in basis at Cambridgeshire’s large-scale vaccination centres. For details, visit https://www.thevaccinators.co.uk/.
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