COSMO Wave 1.15
New questions about second dose intentions and parental intentions to vaccinate their children. Wave 15 also featured a randomized-control trial designed to test whether or not respondents are willing to share false headlines related to COVID-19 on social
Impact Canada, Impact & Innovation Unit, Privy Council Office
Key Insights
- Despite falling case counts and high vaccination uptake, a majority expressed concern about rising cases through the fall and the percentage of respondents reporting “the worst is behind us” declined 25 points between Waves 14 (June) and 15 (August)
- A majority of respondents are willing to follow public health measures if they are re-introduced in the future in response to an outbreak
- Many respondents are feeling excited about the prospect of returning to pre-pandemic times, but there is a high degree of uncertainty about when that will be
- A majority of parents have vaccinated – or intend to vaccinate – their children but some remain unsure
- When considering motivational factors that might encourage people to get a vaccine, mandates and reducing practical barriers were perceived to be effective
- A majority of respondents support proof of vaccination requirements to engage in certain activities and for certain professions
- Despite high levels of confidence among respondents in their ability to identify misinformation, a minority remain susceptible to COVID-19 misinformation
- Mental health challenges persist and younger respondents continue to experience higher levels of loneliness, anxiety and depression.
Background
To support federal response efforts, Impact Canada is leading the implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Behavioural Insights (BI) Tool on COVID-19 in the Canadian context. This work is led in collaboration with the Public Opinion Research Team within the Privy Council Office’s (PCO) Communications and Consultation Secretariat, which supports the Prime Minister’s Office in coordinating government communications in accordance with key priorities.
Methodology
With a longitudinal design, the study follows 2,000 participants recruited from an online panel over sixteen data collection waves. New participants are added only when an original panelist stops participating.
Respondents are a representative mix of Canadian adults aged 18 years and older and results are weighted using 2016 Statistics Canada census data to mirror the population distribution in Canada.
Considerations
Data Collected: August 12-16, 2021
Sample Size: 1,873
When interpreting the COSMO results it is useful to keep in mind the context of the data collection period, which may have influenced the responses of survey participants.
During the Wave 15 data collection period:
- During the Wave 15 data collection period (August 12- 16, 2021), COVID-19 cases in Canada were declining and provinces/territories were easing restrictions
- The Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccines had been approved for use in Canada. As of August 11 (the day before data collection began, approximately 71.4% of the Canadian population had received one dose of a vaccine (or 82.1% of the Canadian population aged 12+). 61.8% of the Canadian population was fully vaccinated (or 71.0% of the population aged 12+)
- On August 9 Canada began allowing fully vaccinated American citizens and permanent residents, who are currently residing in the United States, to enter Canada for non-essential travel.
- Media coverage focused on the growing application of vaccination requirements in Canada and other jurisdictions (e.g., France). On August 13 the Government of Canada announced a vaccine requirement for federal public servants and the transportation sector (e.g., commercial air travellers, passengers on interprovincial trains, etc.).
- Media coverage continued to focus heavily on the Delta variant and resurgences of the virus in other countries. Speculation about a fourth wave in Canada also received media coverage prior to, and during, the data collection period.
- Media coverage also focused on an imminent Canadian federal election call.
The data was weighted to ensure that the sample distribution reflects the actual Canadian adult population according to Statistics Canada census data. There is no associated margin of error for the results, since a non-probability design means that results cannot be projected to the larger population.