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Vaccine information concerns on the rise among Chinese-speaking seniors in SROs

The black and white logo DTES SRO Collaborative
The DTES SRO Collaborative is hoping to combat the rise of vaccine misinformation circulating amongst Chinese-speaking tenants of single-room occupancy hotels in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside with a public-health campaign. Photo courtesy of DTES SRO Collaborative.
Laurence Gatinel - CFRO - Vancouver • BC | 04-02-2021
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By Tan Mei Xi
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Nick Yung is very concerned. Speaking with Chinese-speaking seniors he organizes with in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, Yung sees a proliferation of vaccine misinformation in the community.

According to Yung, reliable information from government bodies, such as the BC Centre for Disease Control doesn't often get conveyed to Chinese-speaking seniors in SROs (single-room occupancy units). Yung told the PULSE that he believes language, socioeconomic status and geographical location are some of the barriers that prevent seniors from obtaining reliable information.

According to Yung, there are "over a hundred" Chinese-speaking tenants of SROs in the Downtown Eastside, mostly in nine SRO hotels in the Downtown Eastside managed by benevolent associations.

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