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VacciNATION Campaign

Preventing future waves of COVID-19, together.

We want to get back to normal. While cases of COVID-19 are decreasing across the province, vaccine hesitancy poses a significant risk to our future. New variants have emerged and they are affecting younger populations and leading to severe illness, hospitalizations, and long-lasting health conditions. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and it is important that young people get vaccinated to prevent future spikes, reduce transmission rates, and keep their friends and families safe.

Concordia University of Edmonton, NorQuest College, MacEwan University, and University of Lethbridge are teaming up to encourage young people to get vaccinated and dispel myths associated with COVID-19 vaccines. How? We are taking a peer-to-peer approach focused on sharing information through social media to ensure post-secondary students have the facts about COVID-19 vaccines as they return to campus this fall.

Spread Facts, Not Fiction

  • COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Canadians over the age of 16 are eligible to receive the Moderna and Pfizer mRNA vaccines, which allow the body to build an immune response and produce antibodies against COVID-19 without being exposed to the live virus.
  • mRNA vaccines(like Moderna and Pfizer) provide instructions to your cells for how to make a coronavirus protein. This protein will trigger an immune response that will help to protect you against COVID-19.
  • You cannot receive COVID-19 from the vaccines and the vaccines cannot change your DNA.
  • Scientific and medical evidence show that vaccination can help protect you against COVID-19. Studies are also showing that vaccinated people may have less severe illness if they do become ill from COVID-19.
  • There is no scientific evidence to support their claim that COVID-19 vaccines affect fertility in women.
  • COVID-19 vaccines do not contain microchips.
  • All Albertans aged 12+ can book their first and second doses now either through the Alberta Health Services booking tool or at a participating pharmacy. There are also walk-in clinics open for Albertans looking to receive their first dose.

Join the VacciNATION Challenge

Do you have an idea worth sharing? We are looking for VacciNATION ambassadors to create informative content targeting Gen Z to be shared on social media. The best part? Entering the VacciNATION Challenge means that you will be eligible to win one of five cash prizes.

All post-secondary students across Alberta are eligible to enter. Materials submitted will be reposted on Twitter and Instagram, and all submissions must be received by September 30, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. MDT. Submissions can be anything that students think will resonate with their peers—videos, infographics, TikTok dances, whatever. We want you to be creative!

I’m in! How do I register?
It’s simple—click the link below to sign up, create your content and submit it to vaccinationab@concordia.ab.ca, and share your content on social media (make sure to tag @vaccination_AB on Twitter and Instagram!).

REGISTER NOW

Submissions will be evaluated on creativity, accuracy, originality, and relevancy to diverse audiences. Remember: We want to inspire others to learn the facts and get vaccinated. The grand prize winner will receive $1,000. The second prize winner will receive $800. The third prize winner will receive $600. The fourth prize winner will receive $400. The fifth prize winner will receive $200.

Eligibility: All students enrolled at a post-secondary institution in Alberta are eligible to participate and enter their submission(s) for a chance to win $1,000. You do not need to be enrolled at Concordia University of Edmonton, NorQuest College, MacEwan University, or University of Lethbridge.

Platforms: Your submission(s) should be designed and developed for social media. Submissions will be shared by the VacciNATION team on Instagram (@vaccination_ab) and/or Twitter (@vaccination_ab); however, you can create content for the platform of your choosing (ex. TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.). Video submissions should not exceed 120 seconds.

Do you have questions about the VacciNATION campaign? Contact Dr. Cecilia Bukutu, via phone at 780-479-9233 or via email at public.health@concordia.ab.ca.

To view the complete VacciNATION Challenge rules, please click here.

Resources and Reference Materials