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Lived Experiences of the COVID-19 Pandemic Among the Vietnamese Population in the Region of Peel

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Abstract

Racial discrimination towards Southeast Asian populations is a longstanding issue in Canada which has intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although extensive work demonstrates inequities among Southeast Asian communities during the pandemic, much work categorizes Asians as one homogenous population neglecting the unique experiences of different Asian subgroups along with the ways COVID-19 differentially affects Southeast Asians. To attend to population variations, this paper explores the lived experiences among Vietnamese individuals during the pandemic in the Peel Region of Ontario Canada. Specifically, this paper examines social and economic impacts of COVID-19, access to healthcare services and vaccines, sources of vaccine information, and impacts of COVID-19 related discrimination among young and older adults. Drawing on in-depth interviews with young and older adults (n=6:8) the results reveal important social and economic impacts created by COVID-19 that vary across generations and impact health and wellbeing. These impacts are challenged further by barriers to healthcare access which were compounded by intersecting inequities experienced among Vietnamese immigrants in the Peel Region. While vaccine hesitancy was not a main concern, the findings demonstrate important generational differences with respect to commonly used and trusted information related to historical events and social media use. Although racial discrimination was a dominant concern, younger participants did not feel unsafe but expressed concern for the safety of their older family members and friends. The study underscores the need to consider historical dynamics and the ways they shape government opinions and trust, experiences of racial discrimination and socio-economic realities among racialized, immigrant populations.

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Notes

  1. Statistics Canada (2017) defines Southeast Asians as those who are, “Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Thai, etc.”. Statistics Canada does not include Filipino populations as part of Southeast Asians.

  2. In Canada, vaccinations were handled at the provincial and territorial levels including the criteria for when people were eligible to receive vaccinations. In Ontario, while there was a provincial wide website to book vaccine appointments (https://COVID19.ontariohealth.ca/), booking appointments could also be done through local public health units (e.g., Peel Public Health) or through local pharmacies. Updates for the most recent information could be delayed across the various booking options.

  3. The Region of Peel is a municipality in Ontario that includes the 2 cities Brampton and Mississauga, and the town of Caledon whereas North York is apart of the City of Toronto.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) - Operating Grant - Emerging COVID-19 Research Gaps & Priorities July 2021: Understanding the COVID-19 Journeys and Vaccine Experiences of Racialized and Immigrant Communities in the Greater Toronto Area; the Office of the Dean University of Toronto Mississauga, UTM Undergraduate Research Grants-Social Justice, Anti-Racism, and/or Decolonization; and the Office of the Vice-Principal Research UTM Black, Indigenous, and/or Racialized Scholar/Research Grant Program. This research would not have been possible without the time and insight from the participants. The authors thank them for their generosity.

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CIHR Award 513442.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

    Tiffany Cao, Andrea Rishworth & Kathi Wilson

  2. Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

    Fatema Ali & Tracey Gallaway

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Contributions

T.C. conducted the research and analyzed the data, A.R. wrote the manuscript, K.W. designed and supervised the study, FA oversaw the data collection and contributed to the interview script, and TG co-designed and supervised the study.

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Correspondence to Andrea Rishworth.

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Highlights

• Examines the unique experiences of Vietnamese adults in the Peel Region during the COVID-19 pandemic

• COVID-19 created positive and negative social, economic and health challenges that varied by age

• Vietnamese individuals in the Peel Region face intersecting inequities and racial discrimination that undermine health

• Historical events and social media use impact trusted COVID-19 information sources

• Consideration to the daily realities of racialized, immigrant and refugee populations during the pandemic is  needed

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Cao, T., Rishworth, A., Wilson, K. et al. Lived Experiences of the COVID-19 Pandemic Among the Vietnamese Population in the Region of Peel. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-023-01804-1

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