Wave 2.1

COSMO Canada

Implementing the WHO Behavioural Insights tool on COVID-19 to inform response efforts, including policy, interventions and communications.

Background

From April 2020 to November 2021, Impact Canada led the implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Behavioural Insights (BI) Tool on COVID-19 in the Canadian context. This study - COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring (COSMO Canada) - was conducted in collaboration with the Public Opinion Research Team at the Privy Council Office.Insights from COSMO Phase One informed the federal response to COVID-19 and enabled whole-of-government decision making to meet the specific, changing needs of citizens throughout the pandemic.

In February 2022, Impact Canada launched the second phase and will continue to monitor the evolving pandemic response context with a new sample of Canadians and a new Advisory Committee.

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Phase 2 Methodology

With a longitudinal design, the study follows 1,500 participants recruited from an online panel over eight waves of data collection. 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. The study will also include cross-sectional oversamples of underrepresented populations and other specific populations of interest. More more information on the study methodology, please visit the COSMO Canada pre-registration page.

Key Insights

Proximity to COVID-19 & Public Health Measures: In Wave 2.1, 21% of respondents indicated that they either have had, or likely have had, COVID-19. An additional 5% of respondents were unsure. A quarter of respondents reported having been tested for COVID-19 in the past month, either using a rapid test or a PCR test. Three quarters of respondents indicated that they would use rapid tests if they were available to them.

Vaccination: 91% of COSMO respondents had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in Wave 2.1, which was in line with real world vaccine uptake for the 18+ population. 68% of respondents had received 3 doses, which was higher than real world uptake. Among respondents with 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, 41% indicated that they were likely to get a third dose. Among unvaccinated respondents, 88% indicated that they do not intend to be vaccinated, while 11% were unsure.

Pediatric Vaccination: Respondents with children were much more likely to indicate that their children aged 12-17 had been vaccinated (83%), compared to those with children aged 5-11 (57%). Among parents with children aged 5-11 who had not already been vaccinated, 80% indicated that they do not intend to vaccinate them. 43% of parents with children aged 0-4 indicated that they would vaccinate their children either as soon as possible (29%) or after some time (14%). Top reasons provided by parents who were unsure or against vaccinating their children (of all ages) were: (1) that their children are healthy and that their immune systems will protect them, and (2) the perception that testing has not been rigorous or that they do not want their children to be test cases.

COVID-19 Knowledge & Misinformation: In Wave 2.1, the vast majority of respondents indicated a great deal of trust (4-5 out of 5) in healthcare workers (82%) and scientific experts (81%) for information on COVID-19. Trust in the federal government (63%) and provincial/territorial governments (60%) was also high, relative to other sources of information, such as radio (29%) and friends/family (38%). Of concern, a minority of respondents indicated that false statements about COVID-19 were ‘very accurate’ or ‘somewhat accurate’, and a minority of respondents indicated that it was ‘extremely likely’ or ‘moderately likely’ that they would share these false news headlines online.

Mental Health & Wellbeing: In Wave 2.1, approximately 65% of respondents were satisfied with their lives as a whole. Concerningly, 49% of respondents indicated that their mental health has declined since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 and only 7% of respondents indicated that their mental health has improved. Younger respondents (aged 18-34) were most likely to indicate that they felt depressed, anxious and lonely.

Pandemic Outlook & Recovery: Half (51%) of respondents think that the worst of the crisis is behind us, but a quarter of respondents are unsure (23%). Despite a majority of respondents indicating that the worst of the crisis is behind us, 34% of respondents still anticipate that it will be longer than 6 months before day-to-day life in Canada resembles pre-pandemic times and 21% think life will ‘never’ resemble pre-pandemic times. Respondents indicated the most worry about inflation and cost-of living increases (77%) and the impact of COVID-19 on the economy (63%). Respondents are also worried about the health system being overloaded (63%) and the mental health of Canadians (63%).

Considerations

Data Collected: February 3-25, 2022

Sample size: 2,000

The context of the data collection period may have influenced survey responses. Some contextual variables during the data collection period were:

COVID-19 cases in Canada were decreasing after the peak of the Omicron wave. On February 24, there were 5600 new cases announced in Canada, after peaking at approximately 40,000/cases day in mid-January.
Most Canadians were vaccinated. As of February 20, approximately 89% of the Canadian population aged 5+ had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.2 85% of the population aged 5+ had received two doses, and 55% of the population aged 18+ had received 3 doses. 55% of children aged 5-11 had received at least one dose, and 32% had received two doses. At the time of data collection, no COVID-19 vaccines had been approved for children aged 4 and under.
Media coverage of the Omicron variant waned and focused heavily on FPT decisions to relax public health restrictions. For example, there was a lot of coverage surrounding Ontario’s February 14 announcement that it is dropping its vaccine mandate requirement beginning March 1, 2022.
National media coverage was focused on the various protests against vaccine mandates and public health measures that occurred throughout the country, particularly in Ottawa and Windsor. The Federal Government invoked the Federal Emergencies Act on February 14 and lifted it on February 23.
The Government announced that it was easing on-arrival testing and quarantine measures for fully-vaccinated travellers. Unvaccinated travellers are still required to test on arrival and on Day 8, and quarantine for 14 days. The Government also announced that it will no longer recommend that Canadians avoid travel for non-essential purposes.

Public Health Measures

Figure 1. Did you get a flu shot this season (fall 2021 or winter 2022)?

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Table 1. Did you get a flu shot this season (fall 2021 or winter 2022)?

Figure 2. In the past four weeks, have you been tested for COVID-19 (for example, at an assessment centre, using a rapid test, or at a pharmacy)?

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Table 2. In the past four weeks, have you been tested for COVID-19 (for example, at an assessment centre, using a rapid test, or at a pharmacy)?

Figure 3. If at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests were available to me, I would use them.

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Table 3. If at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests were available to me, I would use them.

Figure 4. In the past month, how often have you used the following measures to avoid getting COVID-19 or to prevent the spread of COVID-19?

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Table 4. In the past month, how often have you used the following measures to avoid getting COVID-19 or to prevent the spread of COVID-19?

Figure 5. In the past two weeks, have you…

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Table 5. In the past two weeks, have you…

Figure 6. In the future, if the following public health measures had to be reintroduced to prevent a widespread outbreak, would you support them?

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Table 6. In the future, if the following public health measures had to be reintroduced to prevent a widespread outbreak, would you support them?

Figure 7. In the past month, how often have you…

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Table 7. In the past month, how often have you…

Vaccination

At the time of data collection the actual 3rd dose uptake in Canada was at 55% in the adult population.

Figure 8. Have you received a COVID-19 vaccine?

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Table 8. Have you received a COVID-19 vaccine? At the time of data collection the actual 3rd dose uptake in Canada was at 55% in the adult population.

Figure 9. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements (respondents who have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine; n=1,824).

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Table 9. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements (respondents who have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine; n=1,824).

Figure 10. If a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine was available and recommended for you, how likely would you be to get it (respondents with 2 doses; n=404)?

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Table 10. If a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine was available and recommended for you, how likely would you be to get it (respondents with 2 doses; n=404)?

Figure 11. If a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine was available and recommended for you, how likely would you be to get it (respondents with 3 doses; n=1367)?

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Table 11. If a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine was available and recommended for you, how likely would you be to get it (respondents with 3 doses; n=1367)?

Figure 12. To what extent would you be comfortable receiving a [third/fourth] dose that was a different brand than the doses you had previously received?

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Table 12. To what extent would you be comfortable receiving a [third/fourth] dose that was a different brand than the doses you had previously received?

Figure 13. In a few words, please explain your main reasons for feeling against or unsure about receiving a [third/fourth] dose of a COVID-19 vaccine (respondents who have received up to three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine but are at least somewhat uncomfortable to receive an additional dose; n=385).

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Table 13. In a few words, please explain your main reasons for feeling against or unsure about receiving a [third/fourth] dose of a COVID-19 vaccine (respondents who have received up to three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine but are at least somewhat uncomfortable to receive an additional dose; n=385).

Figure 14. Will you get a COVID-19 vaccine (respondents who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine; n=176)?

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Table 14. Will you get a COVID-19 vaccine (respondents who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine; n=176)?

Ending proof-of-vaccination requirements

Figure 15. Some provinces and territories have implemented proof-of-vaccination requirements. In your opinion, how much longer do you think these requirements should be in place?

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Table 15. Some provinces and territories have implemented proof-of-vaccination requirements. In your opinion, how much longer do you think these requirements should be in place?

Proximity to others who are vaccinated

Figure 16. Are most of your close friends or family members vaccinated against COVID-19?

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Table 16. Are most of your close friends or family members vaccinated against COVID-19?

Compliance with routine vaccinations

Figure 17. Have you ever decided not to get a routine vaccine or delayed getting a routine vaccine (e.g. tetanus, shingles, pneumonia) for reasons other than illness or allergy?

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Table 17. Have you ever decided not to get a routine vaccine or delayed getting a routine vaccine (e.g. tetanus, shingles, pneumonia) for reasons other than illness or allergy?

Vaccines for Children

Figure 18. Has/have any of your child(ren) aged 12-17 received a COVID-19 vaccine (respondents with child(ren) aged 12-17; n=214)?

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Table 18. Has/have any of your child(ren) aged 12-17 received a COVID-19 vaccine (respondents with child(ren) aged 12-17; n=214)?

Figure 19. Has/have any of your child(ren) aged 5-11 received a COVID-19 vaccine (respondents with child(ren) aged 5 to 11 at home; n=251)?

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Table 19. Has/have any of your child(ren) aged 5-11 received a COVID-19 vaccine (respondents with child(ren) aged 5 to 11 at home; n=251)?

Likelihood to get child aged 5 to 11 years vaccinated among those who have not had their child aged 5 to 11 years vaccinated (n=100)

Figure 20. Please indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: Now that a COVID-19 vaccine is recommended and available for my child(ren) aged 15-11, I will get them vaccinated.

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Table 20. Please indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: Now that a COVID-19 vaccine is recommended and available for my child(ren) aged 15-11, I will get them vaccinated.

Vaccinations for children under 5 years among parents of child(ren) under 5 years (n=169)

Figure 21. Please indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: If a COVID-19 vaccine is recommended and available for my child/children aged 4 and under, I would get them vaccinated.

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Table 21. Please indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: If a COVID-19 vaccine is recommended and available for my child/children aged 4 and under, I would get them vaccinated.

Reasons for vaccine hesitation

Figure 22. In a few words, please explain why you are unsure or against getting a vaccine for some or all of your children (among respondents with children who were unsure or against vaccinating them; n=157).

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Table 22. In a few words, please explain why you are unsure or against getting a vaccine for some or all of your children (among respondents with children who were unsure or against vaccinating them; n=157).

Figure 23. How worried are you about your child(ren) contracting COVID-19 (n=484)?

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Table 23. How worried are you about your child(ren) contracting COVID-19 (n=484)?

Sources of Information and Trust

Level of trust in sources of information about COVID-19

Figure 24. To what extent do you trust or distrust the following sources for information on COVID-19?

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Table 24. To what extent do you trust or distrust the following sources for information on COVID-19?

COVID-19 Knowledge and Misinformation

Views on ACCURATE claims about the COVID-19 vaccine, and likelihood to share online

Figure 25. To the best of your knowledge, how accurate are the claims in each of the following news headlines

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Table 25. To the best of your knowledge, how accurate are the claims in each of the following news headlines

Figure 26. If you were to see the following news stories online (for example, through Facebook or Twitter), how likely would you be to share them?

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Table 26. If you were to see the following news stories online (for example, through Facebook or Twitter), how likely would you be to share them?

Views on INACCURATE claims about the COVID-19 vaccine, and likelihood to share online

Figure 27. To the best of your knowledge, how accurate are the claims in each of the following news headlines?

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Table 27. To the best of your knowledge, how accurate are the claims in each of the following news headlines?

Figure 28. If you were to see the following news stories online (for example, through Facebook or Twitter), how likely would you be to share them?

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Table 28. If you were to see the following news stories online (for example, through Facebook or Twitter), how likely would you be to share them?

Preferred social media platforms

Figure 29. Which of the following social media platforms do you use regularly (i.e. once every few days, or more).

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Table 29. Which of the following social media platforms do you use regularly (i.e. once every few days, or more).

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Figure 30. All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole?

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Table 30. All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole?

Figure 31. Since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, my overall mental health has…

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Table 31. Since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, my overall mental health has…

Figure 32. In the past two weeks, how often have you…..

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Table 32. In the past two weeks, how often have you…..

Pandemic Outlook and Recovery

Figure 33. Thinking of the COVID-19 pandemic, do you think…

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Table 33. Thinking of the COVID-19 pandemic, do you think…

Figure 34. When do you expect that day-to-day life in Canada will resemble pre-pandemic times?

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Table 34. When do you expect that day-to-day life in Canada will resemble pre-pandemic times?

Figure 35. At the moment, how much do you worry about:

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Table 35. At the moment, how much do you worry about:

Sources used to stay informed about COVID-19

Figure 36. In your opinion, how much of a threat, if any, is the COVID-19 outbreak for...

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Table 36. In your opinion, how much of a threat, if any, is the COVID-19 outbreak for...

Proximity to COVID-19

Personally have been infected

Figure 37. Are you or have you been infected with COVID-19?

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Table 37. Are you or have you been infected with COVID-19?