Vaccination Coverage Survey(CVCS): Cycle 2 April-May 2021 (Infographic)

What is CVCS?

A survey that targets all Canadians 18 years of age and older currently taking place in the 10 provinces and 3 territories. CVCS has several cycles; the second cycle surveyed 10,678 adults in the 10 provinces between April 12 and May 12, 2021.

Why is CVCS being conducted?

CVCS collects information on COVID-19 vaccination such as

• Intent to get vaccinated and reasons for non-vaccination
• Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding COVID-19 vaccines and vaccines in general
• Trusted sources of information about COVID-19 vaccines

It may also help in the development of strategies to tackle vaccine hesitancy.

What is vaccine hesitancy?

"A delay in acceptance or refusal of safe vaccines despite availability of vaccine services."

[MacDonald & SAGE Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy, 2015]

CVCS in the 10 provinces

While a good proportion of adults in the 10 provinces have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, continued effort is needed to achieve higher coverage rates.

Intent to get vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of the survey

• 45% already received at least one dose
• 49% were likely to get vaccinated
• 5% were unlikely to get vaccinated

Who do we need to reach?

The odds of NOT INTENDING to get vaccinated were:

• About 4X greater in individuals with less than secondary education compared to university education
• 3X greater in individuals with household income less than $30,000 compared to household income greater than or equal to $150,000
• About 2X greater in individuals who do not identify as a visible minority compared to visible minorities
• 1.5X greater in men compared to women

Intent to get vaccinated by perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines

• 87% agree and 13% disagree with the statement that the COVID-19 vaccines are effective.

  Out of the 13% who disagree with that statement:  

  • 23% had already received at least one dose
  • 48% were unvaccinated but likely to get vaccinated
  • 29% were unvaccinated and unlikely to get vaccinated

• 82% agree and 18% disagree with the statement that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe.

  Out of the 18% who disagree with that statement:

  • 25% had already received at least one dose
  • 51% were unvaccinated but likely to get vaccinated
  • 24% were unvaccinated and unlikely to get vaccinated

What beliefs may hold people back from getting vaccinated?

Out of the population of the 10 provinces, the following percentage strongly or somewhat agree with these statements:

• Physical distancing, frequent handwashing and wearing a mask are enough to protect me from COVID-19 (30%)
• I distrust COVID-19 vaccines because they were developed too quickly (24%)
• The severity of the pandemic has been overstated (20%)

What are the main reasons for non-vaccination?

Out of the population of the 10 provinces that was not vaccinated at the time of the survey

• 59% were not part of a priority group for vaccination at this time or had not been able to make an appointment yet
• 18% had an appointment in the future
• 8% did not want to be vaccinated at this time
• 3% did not want to be vaccinated at all

What sources of information about COVID-19 vaccines do residents in the 10 provinces trust?

• Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada (84%)
• Provincial, territorial or regional health authorities (68%)
• Their physician (58%)
• Other health care professionals (46%)
• Their family or friends (17%)
• Other people’s experience and knowledge (16%)

Takeaway message

There are still barriers related to vaccination. Continued efforts to tackle vaccine hesitancy and to better understand the intent, beliefs, attitudes and knowledge related to COVID-19 vaccination are essential to achieve higher coverage rates and to protect all Canadians against COVID-19.

References

Razai MS, Chaudhry UAR, Doerholt K, Bauld L, Majeed A. Covid-19 vaccination hesitancy. BMJ 2021; 373: n1138. Doi:10.1136/bmj.n1138

MacDonald NE & SAGE Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy: Definition, scope and determinants. Vaccine 2015; 33:4161-4. Doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.04.036

For more information about the COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Survey 

Contact us at: phac.coverage-couvertures.aspc@canada.ca

Or go to: COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Survey (CVCS)

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