COSMO Wave 2.3

Key Insights

• Public Health Measures: In Wave 2.3, 41% of respondents indicated that they either have had, or likely have had, COVID-19 at some point. 30% of respondents reported having been tested for COVID-19 in the past month, either using a rapid test or a PCR test. 84% of respondents reported ‘often’ or ‘always’ wearing a face mask when mandatory and 47% when it was not mandatory.

• Vaccination: 91% of COSMO respondents had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, which was in line with real world vaccine uptake for the 18+ population. 72% of the COSMO sample had at least 3 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, which was higher than real world uptake (59%). First, second and third dose uptake have not shifted meaningfully since the beginning of data collection in February 2022. Among unvaccinated respondents (9% of total sample), 94% indicated that they do not intend to be vaccinated, while 5% were unsure. Among respondents with 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine (i.e., who had not yet received a booster dose), 23% indicated that they were likely to get a third dose and 72% indicated they were unlikely to get one. This represents a decrease in intentions compared to previous waves of data collection. Among respondents with 3 doses, 78% indicated that they were likely to get a fourth dose if it becomes available and recommended.

• Pediatric Vaccination: 39% of parents intend to vaccinate their 0-4 year olds either as soon as possible (31%) or after some time (8%). Intentions to vaccinate children in this age group have not shifted significantly since data collection began in February 2022. In all three waves of data collection, the portion of parents with children aged 5-11 indicating that their children were unvaccinated remained consistent (42-43%), suggesting that first dose uptake has stalled in this age group. 81% of parents with children aged 12-17 indicated that their children had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 27% had three doses. Across the three waves of data collection, first and second dose uptake have not shifted significantly in the 12-17 population, however, the portion of children 12-17 with 3 doses has increased across waves.
• Sources of Information & Trust: In Wave 2.3, 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 (62%) and provincial/territorial governments (60%) was also high, relative to other sources of information, such as friends/family (32%).There were no significant changes in trust in information sources between Waves 2.1 and 2.3. Of concern, only 25% agreed that the federal government listens to what ordinary people think about COVID-19.
• COVID-19 Knowledge & Misinformation: A minority of respondents indicated that false statements about COVID-19 were ‘very accurate’ or ‘somewhat accurate’, and questioned the accuracy of some true statements. For example, 23% thought it was very or somewhat accurate that “there is little to no evidence that masks help to reduce the spread of COVID-19”. Additionally, a majority (65%) of respondents reported that they are ‘extremely’ or ‘very’ concerned about the spread of mis/disinformation online. Levels of concern were consistent between Waves 2.2 and 2.3.
• Mental Health & Wellbeing: In Wave 2.3, 72% of respondents reported that they were satisfied with their lives as a whole - life satisfaction has been trending upward since Wave 2.1 (65%). In a related question on mental health, 35% of respondents indicated that their overall mental health has declined since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 (49% reported a decline in February 2022). Many respondents reported that they had felt stressed (69%), burnt out (50%), angry (53%), and anxious (63%) in the past two weeks.
• Pandemic Outlook & Recovery: A majority (58%) of respondents reported that ‘the worst of the crisis is behind us’ (a slight increase from 51% in Waves 2.1 and 2.2), but many respondents remain unsure (22%). Despite a majority of respondents indicating that the worst of the crisis is behind us, 24% of respondents still anticipate that it will be longer than 6 months before day-to-day life in Canada resembles pre-pandemic times and 27% think life will ‘never’ resemble pre-pandemic times. Economic worries are top of mind for respondents. Respondents have become less worried about the impact of COVID-19 on the economy over time (63% in Wave 2.1 to 46% in Wave 2.3), and more concerned about inflation and cost-of-living increases (77% in Wave 2.1 to 79% in Wave 2.3). Health worries related to the pandemic have declined since data collection began in February. Respondents remain the most worried about increasing divisiveness and/or conflict within society (62%), and the health system being overloaded (52%).