Contesting COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: realities and experiences among racialized immigrant and racialized non-immigrant individuals in Peel Region Canada

This article examines perceptions surrounding trusted COVID-19 information sources, factors underpinning competing COVID-19 sentiments, and perceived choice in COVID-19 vaccines among racialized immigrant and racialized non-immigrant communities. While vaccine equity is critical to control COVID-19, racialized and immigrant groups are less likely to have confidence in or receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Research on vaccine gaps often center on homogenizing vaccine hesitancy discourses, reinforcing assumptions that hesitancy amounts to blanket vaccine refusal. Fewer studies examine the spectrum of vaccine sentiments and decision making informed by wider sociocultural, historical, and political place-based dynamics in Canada. Drawing on in-depth interviews (n = 79) with racialized immigrants and racialized non-immigrants in the Peel Region Ontario Canada, the results reveal a complicated narrative of vaccine inequity and factors underpinning vaccine choices. Findings indicate vaccine (dis)trust is shaped by various personal, socio-structural and historical factors converge to shape vaccine acceptance and opposition. Findings indicate vaccine mandates increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake, even among people who distrusted the vaccine, yet undermine choice and reinforce cynicism, distrust, and anger towards government. This study suggests that multipronged, equity informed policy approaches rooted in anti-racist and anti-oppressive frameworks are needed to address COVID-19 vaccine inequities.