COSMO Wave 1.16
New questions about booster dose intentions, vaccines for children, and the use of rapid tests
Impact Canada, Impact & Innovation Unit, Privy Council Office
Key Insights
- Many respondents expressed concern about rising cases through the winter and only half of respondents reported that “the worst of the crisis is behind us”.
- Many respondents are feeling excited about the prospect of returning to pre-pandemic times, but there is a high degree ofuncertainty about when that will be.
- A majority of respondents indicated a desire to use at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests if they were available.
- Two thirds of vaccinated respondents said they would get a third vaccine dose if it was recommended.
- Parents of older children are more likely to say they would vaccinate them compared to parents with younger children.
- When considering motivational factors that might encourage people to get a vaccine, mandates and reducing practical barriers appear to be more persuasive than financial incentives.
- 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 susceptibleto believing and spreading COVID-19 misinformation.
- Mental health challenges persist and Wave 16 saw a large increase in worries about the impact of COVID-19 on the economyand the health system.
- A majority of respondents think stricter travel measures will effectively reduce the risk of importing cases.
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: November 16-22, 2021
Sample Size: 2,033
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 16 data collection period (November 16-22, 2021), COVID-19 cases in Canada were increasing and many provinces/territories continued to ease restrictions.
- The Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccines had been approved for use in Canada. As of November 26 (just after data collection concluded) approximately 86% of the Canadian population aged 12+ were fully vaccinated and 3% had received one dose.
- Media coverage of the Delta variant waned prior to the data collection period and coverage of the Omicron variant had not yet emerged in Canada.
- On November 19 – midway through the data collection period – Health Canada approved the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine for children aged 5-11.
- On November 8, fully vaccinated Canadian travellers were permitted to cross land borders with the US. There was extensive media coverage of the testing requirements to return to Canada. On November 17, the Government of Canada announced that it would lift testing requirements for trips under 72 hours.
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.