Debunking Myths and Encouraging Prevention Through Vaccination

In August 2021, the African Women’s Cancer Awareness Association (AWCAA) organized two COVID-19 outreach events, in partnership with Prince George’s County, MD and the Nigerian Nurses Association. In addition to offering both first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, nurses and staff provided encouragement and answers for community members and as well as interpretation services for community members who spoke Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa languages. The AWCAA team had a conversation with one teenager who refused to get vaccinated, and helped debunk some of the myths he had heard about the vaccine. He changed his mind and got vaccinated that day. Rather than go home, he spent the rest of the day volunteering with the AWCAA, encouraging other teenagers to get vaccinated!