An online event Thursday, Dec. 2, aims to answer questions from local young adults and overcome their hesitancy to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Sparking Vaccine Confidence among Students of Windsor-Essex will feature a panel that includes a science expert, a frontline worker, and students from the University of Windsor and St. Clair College.

Biomedical sciences professor Dora Cavallo-Medved, lead researcher on the Students Igniting Vaccine Confidence Program, touts the approach of having students reach out to understand the motivators and barriers of those averse to vaccination.

“Our team of students have taken the lead to identify reasons why students and young adults in our region are hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine and are developing evidence-based strategies to educate and empower this target population,” she says.

“Through student-led discussions, they hope to address some of these hesitancies and build confidence in the COVID-19 vaccines by sharing their own experiences.”

The event, hosted by WE-Spark Health Institute in collaboration with the University of Windsor and St. Clair College, will run 6 to 7 p.m. on the Zoom videoconferencing platform. Admission is free but requires advance registration; sign up here.

One of the organizers, fourth-year biomedical sciences major Jaclyn Ruta, hopes for a good turnout of her young adult peers.

“The webinar is a great chance to hear unique perspectives of students and healthcare experts, and join in on the conversations we have opened up,” she says.