Doctors urge education as survey finds as one in five plan to sit out vaccination
Doctors say the province should reach out to the vaccine-hesitant after a recent poll showed onefifth of Albertans have no intention of being vaccinated against COVID-19. Leger, the largest Canadian-owned polling firm, conducted a survey of 1,516 Canadians between Jan. 15 and 17.
Nationally, the survey showed 71 per cent of respondents plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
In Alberta, it dipped to 65 per cent — the lowest among Canadian provinces — with 20 per cent of respondents from the province indicating they had “no” intention of getting immunized and 15 per cent who were unsure.
Dr. Ilan Schwartz, an infectious-diseases researcher at the University of Alberta, said there has been a “successful” movement by people who reject science and subscribe to conspiracy theories to dissuade others from getting vaccinated, suggesting it could cause more harm than COVID-19.
This is the furthest thing from the truth, said Schwartz, but it can sow doubt.
“I think people fear things that are new and, at the same time, have very short memories. Really, what they should be fearing is the emergence of this novel and highly devastating virus that has brought our society to its knees and resulted in millions of deaths around the world,” he said.
“At this point, we know that we are not going to be able to convince anti-vaxxers, and that's not our goal. It's the vast majority of people who are not anti-vaxxers, but vaccine-hesitant because of the effectiveness of the misinformation they are receiving.”
He said Albertans must be critical of where they're getting information on COVID -19 vaccines and seek out reputable sources. The problem, however, is many people “insulate themselves” with opinions similar to their own.
“We, as a medical establishment and public health establishment, need to meet these individuals where they are — using social media to engage people,” Schwartz said.
The only way for Canadians to beat COVID-19 is by achieving herd immunity through vaccinations rather than natural infections, he added. Otherwise, there will remain a serious risk of COVID-19 wreaking havoc again with the introduction of new or current strains.
The recent poll also shows 79 per cent of Alberta respondents disagree that “vaccines are dangerous and should not be taken or given.” However, eight per cent agreed with the statement and 13 per cent indicated they “don't know.”
The poll also showed survey participants from Alberta and Quebec are least afraid of contracting COVID -19.
An average 38 per cent of Canadians indicated they were “not very afraid” or “not afraid at all.”
In Alberta and Quebec, however, that was the response of 48 per cent and 47 per cent, respectively.
Dr. Sajjad Fazel, a post-doctoral associate at the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine, said there are misconceptions related to the side-effects and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, even though they have undergone rigorous testing and approval by Health Canada.
There are also conspiracy theories about the intent of vaccines.
While none of the above should cause concern, Fazel said people shouldn't “dismiss fears.”
“We need to be empathetic, listen and understand what their exact fear is, then answer it with education from trusted sources,” he said.
“Some minority communities might be hesitant because of the racialized and systemic issues that have happened in the past, where people of colour have not been treated fairly in the health-care system,” Fazel said.
He said the Alberta government should expand efforts to educate residents on the importance of being vaccinated, with information aimed at dispelling fears and misconceptions.
Town halls with medical experts and engagement with trusted community partners in racialized communities could also help increase trust in COVID -19 immunizations, Fazel said.
What they should be fearing is … this highly devastating virus that has brought our society to its knees.
ALBERTANS `DISSATISFIED' WITH PROVINCE'S COVID-19 MEASURES
Compared to any other province in the country, Albertans are the least satisfied with their provincial government's actions to fight COVID -19. A whopping 69 per cent of Alberta respondents indicated they were “dissatisfied,” according to the Leger poll. The national average was 39 per cent.
Support for Premier Jason Kenney and his government's COVID-19 pandemic response dropped from 74 per cent in March last year to 28 per cent in January, the biggest dip in satisfaction across Canada.
Meanwhile, 57 per cent of Albertans indicated they are “satisfied” with the federal government's response — trending just below the national average, the data shows.