Canada authorized the first COVID-19 vaccine in December 2021. It was a milestone, a cause for celebration and, for some, a relief felt throughout the country. It was also followed by important and pressing questions: How safe is the COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant people? Can I have an allergic reaction to the vaccine? How can I trust the vaccine when Canada has a history of medical racism?
Science World explores vaccine confidence in Canada by facilitating conversations with science communicators passionate about science literacy, doctors who have led vaccine rollouts, experts in vaccination and immunology and caring community members. These episodes will look at the science, the history and the humans behind the vaccines and its impact on our communities in Canada.
Episodes
A Dose of Empathy
Full Speed Ahead
Vaccinating for Two
Threading the Needle
A Dose of Empathy: Understanding Vaccine Hesitancy in Barriered Communities
How can we provide equitable vaccine access to all—especially when they’ve experienced harm in our medical system? Join co-hosts Romila Barryman and Fábio de Miranda as they learn about addressing medical racism in Canada and how cultural safety can be used to consider barriers that Black, Indigenous and Communities of Colour face. Featuring the work of Dr. Amy Tan, Dr. Shannon Waters and Dr. Akwatu Khenti, this episode explores how, when it comes to vaccine hesitancy, a little empathy can go a long way.
Check out this at-home activity to learn about antibodies in your immune system and how they work to fight against pathogens like SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Full Speed Ahead: How COVID-19 Vaccines Were Developed So Quickly
How were the COVID-19 vaccines developed so fast? Does their development differ from vaccine development of the past? Join co-hosts Romila Barryman and Fábio de Miranda as they learn how vaccine development has changed over time and how vaccines of the past were foundational for the creation of the COVID-19 vaccines. Featuring interviews with "The Mother of DNA Vaccines," Dr. Margaret Liu and Dawn Mockler, creator of the viral smallpox vaccine cartoon, "Because it Worked," this episode sheds light on how safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines were accelerated.
Explore how COVID-19 mRNA vaccines (such as Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech) work to protect against infection in this fun building activity.
Vaccinating for Two: The Impact of The Pregnancy Paradox in Vaccine Trials
Why was there a delay in prioritizing vaccination for pregnant and lactating people? How can we prevent a recurrence in the future? Join co-hosts Romila Barryman and Fábio de Miranda as they learn about the historical exclusion of pregnant and lactating people from vaccine trials and how this creates a data gap that slows down their access to vaccines. Featuring interviews with Dr. Manish Sadarangani and people who navigated the vaccine-booking process while pregnant, this episode looks into how we can avoid data gaps in future pandemics and design more inclusive vaccine trials.
Learn how herd immunity works to protect populations from infection in this educational at-home activity.
Threading the Needle: Navigating the Healthcare System with Needle Phobia
What is needle phobia? How does it prevent people from accessing medical care and what can be done to help? Neuroscientist and science communicator, Dr. Samantha Yammine (aka Science Sam) tells us how. As someone with needle phobia, Science Sam understands how nerve-wracking it can be. Drawing from personal experience, she shares what accommodations can be made for people with a fear of needles at clinics and other vaccination sites, and how people who have needle phobia and anxiety can learn to navigate the healthcare system in the face of emerging epidemics and pandemics.
Find out how soap and water work together to help stop the spread of illnesses in this at-home activity.
Thank you to our supporters:
We acknowledge the support of the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
About the sticker
Survivors
Artist: Jeff Kulak
Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.
About the sticker
Egg BB
Artist: Jeff Kulak
Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.
About the sticker
Comet Crisp
Artist: Jeff Kulak
Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.
About the sticker
T-Rex and Baby
Artist: Michelle Yong
Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.
About the sticker
Buddy the T-Rex
Artist: Michelle Yong
Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.
About the sticker
Geodessy
Artist: Michelle Yong
Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.
About the sticker
Science Buddies
Artist: Ty Dale
From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.
About the sticker
Western Dinosaur
Artist: Ty Dale
From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.
About the sticker
Time-Travel T-Rex
Artist: Ty Dale
From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.
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