But more than a year and a half later, as Quebec announced that a fifth dose will be available to all adults by the end of August, experts say few people will quickly line up for it. In fact, provincial data shows a declining interest in all COVID-19 boosters in recent months. According to the Quebec Ministry of Health, only 56 percent of the total eligible population has received a third vaccine – or their first booster dose. This number has remained unchanged for a month. Only 19 percent of the total eligible population has received a fourth dose — the vast majority of whom are age 60 and older. While federal and provincial Health officials said the best defense against a possible eighth wave and serious illness from the virus is to stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 doses, experts say there are several reasons why Quebecers are delaying getting their doses. Kim Lavoie, chair of behavioral medicine at UQAM, says that if the Quebec government doesn’t change its vaccination messages, Quebecers likely won’t get their next booster dose. (Jean-Claude Taliana/CBC) The chair of behavioral medicine at the Université du Québec à Montréal says the provincial government’s failure to be transparent and manage people’s expectations is one of them. “[The government] she said, ‘Oh, you know, you’re going to need two doses, and that’s the definition of fully vaccinated,’” said Kim Lavoie from the health department’s message at the start of the pandemic. While the government has continued to urge people — not unreasonably, according to Lavoie — to take more doses, she says this has led to confusion and mistrust about the benefits they provide. “I think that’s what we’re suffering from – the impression that the government doesn’t know what they’re talking about because they keep making promises and changing the contract.” Lavoie says that without concrete changes in the government’s messaging, she worries that Quebecers won’t get their next booster dose — never mind their fifth.
Waiting for updated booster for COVID
Dr. Matthew Oughton, an infectious disease specialist at Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital, says this slow uptake of booster shots is being seen across Canada. He expects this is partly due to people waiting to get Moderna’s new dual-valent vaccine, which was recently approved for use in the UK It is specifically designed to protect against the highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19 and is currently awaiting approval in Canada. It is unknown when it will be available. “I really expect to see a big jump in demand when the bivalent boosters are actually available,” he said, noting their stronger protection against the strain of the virus currently circulating in the country. But is the average person, with no risk of serious complications from COVID-19, better off getting some protection now or waiting an indefinite period of time for more protection later? Dr. Matthew Oughton says it’s better to get your next booster now than to wait for Moderna’s bivalent vaccine. (CBC) Prativa Baral, an epidemiologist, encourages people not to wait. “Since there are still high levels of COVID circulating right now, the best vaccine is the vaccine you have on hand,” he said. Oughton says that especially during the colder months, with the flu looming on the horizon, waiting for an upgraded dose can be dangerous. “[The current booster] At least it gives you protection against serious disease and would probably reduce the burden on health care facilities if there is a huge and relatively sudden increase in disease in the population,” he said. British health authorities have approved an updated version of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine that aims to protect against the original virus and the micron variant. (Rogelio V. Solis/The Associated Press)
Communicative value
Lavoie says now that millions of Quebecers have already contracted COVID-19 — some twice — people’s willingness to get another dose depends in part on their perception of risk. “As the perception of risk decreases, so does the willingness to make the sacrifice necessary to get a vaccine,” he said. The behavioral medicine expert says the Quebec government therefore needs to do a better job of communicating what the added value of getting a booster dose is in a clear and accessible way. He says changing people’s behavior boils down to three factors, which the government must work to address:
Awareness: The problem is that very few people receive booster shots. Motivation: This is how the boost will benefit you personally or align with your values. Trust: This is how accessible a booster dose is for you, in convenience, cost, ability to deal with side effects, etc.
A vaccine-only strategy is not the best method
On Wednesday, Quebec’s Director of Public Health, Dr. Luc Boileau, stated that the fifth dose, “as well as the others that may follow”, will be necessary to maintain immunity against COVID-19.
Baral says that while vaccines remain an important tool for preventing serious infections, a vaccine-only strategy, as she’s seen in many provinces, isn’t necessarily the best method — especially as people fail to keep up with their boosters.
Baral says she would like to see the Quebec government impose additional measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as back-to-school approaches.
“Whether it’s ventilation in schools, better air quality, there are additional steps we can certainly take to make sure our ‘living with this virus’ strategy is a little bit safer for everyone involved,” he said.
In an interview with CBC Montreal’s Daybreak, Boileau said he is not recommending the return of any mandatory measures, such as wearing masks, particularly since no new variant has been identified in Quebec at this time.
He said public health is discussing bringing mobile vaccine clinics to schools in the coming weeks.
As for air quality in classrooms, he said those most at risk have been identified and fitted with CO2 reading devices.
title: “Why Uptake Of Covid Boosters Is Lagging In Quebec And Why It Matters Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-19” author: “Peter Merrill”
But more than a year and a half later, as Quebec announced that a fifth dose will be available to all adults by the end of August, experts say few people will quickly line up for it. In fact, provincial data shows a declining interest in all COVID-19 boosters in recent months. According to the Quebec Ministry of Health, only 56 percent of the total eligible population has received a third vaccine – or their first booster dose. This number has remained unchanged for a month. Only 19 percent of the total eligible population has received a fourth dose — the vast majority of whom are age 60 and older. While federal and provincial Health officials said the best defense against a possible eighth wave and serious illness from the virus is to stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 doses, experts say there are several reasons why Quebecers are delaying getting their doses. Kim Lavoie, chair of behavioral medicine at UQAM, says that if the Quebec government doesn’t change its vaccination messages, Quebecers likely won’t get their next booster dose. (Jean-Claude Taliana/CBC) The chair of behavioral medicine at the Université du Québec à Montréal says the provincial government’s failure to be transparent and manage people’s expectations is one of them. “[The government] she said, ‘Oh, you know, you’re going to need two doses, and that’s the definition of fully vaccinated,’” said Kim Lavoie from the health department’s message at the start of the pandemic. While the government has continued to urge people — not unreasonably, according to Lavoie — to take more doses, she says this has led to confusion and mistrust about the benefits they provide. “I think that’s what we’re suffering from – the impression that the government doesn’t know what they’re talking about because they keep making promises and changing the contract.” Lavoie says that without concrete changes in the government’s messaging, she worries that Quebecers won’t get their next booster dose — never mind their fifth.
Waiting for updated booster for COVID
Dr. Matthew Oughton, an infectious disease specialist at Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital, says this slow uptake of booster shots is being seen across Canada. He expects this is partly due to people waiting to get Moderna’s new dual-valent vaccine, which was recently approved for use in the UK It is specifically designed to protect against the highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19 and is currently awaiting approval in Canada. It is unknown when it will be available. “I really expect to see a big jump in demand when the bivalent boosters are actually available,” he said, noting their stronger protection against the strain of the virus currently circulating in the country. But is the average person, with no risk of serious complications from COVID-19, better off getting some protection now or waiting an indefinite period of time for more protection later? Dr. Matthew Oughton says it’s better to get your next booster now than to wait for Moderna’s bivalent vaccine. (CBC) Prativa Baral, an epidemiologist, encourages people not to wait. “Since there are still high levels of COVID circulating right now, the best vaccine is the vaccine you have on hand,” he said. Oughton says that especially during the colder months, with the flu looming on the horizon, waiting for an upgraded dose can be dangerous. “[The current booster] At least it gives you protection against serious disease and would probably reduce the burden on health care facilities if there is a huge and relatively sudden increase in disease in the population,” he said. British health authorities have approved an updated version of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine that aims to protect against the original virus and the micron variant. (Rogelio V. Solis/The Associated Press)
Communicative value
Lavoie says now that millions of Quebecers have already contracted COVID-19 — some twice — people’s willingness to get another dose depends in part on their perception of risk. “As the perception of risk decreases, so does the willingness to make the sacrifice necessary to get a vaccine,” he said. The behavioral medicine expert says the Quebec government therefore needs to do a better job of communicating what the added value of getting a booster dose is in a clear and accessible way. He says changing people’s behavior boils down to three factors, which the government must work to address:
Awareness: The problem is that very few people receive booster shots. Motivation: This is how the boost will benefit you personally or align with your values. Trust: This is how accessible a booster dose is for you, in convenience, cost, ability to deal with side effects, etc.
A vaccine-only strategy is not the best method
On Wednesday, Quebec’s Director of Public Health, Dr. Luc Boileau, stated that the fifth dose, “as well as the others that may follow”, will be necessary to maintain immunity against COVID-19.
Baral says that while vaccines remain an important tool for preventing serious infections, a vaccine-only strategy, as she’s seen in many provinces, isn’t necessarily the best method — especially as people fail to keep up with their boosters.
Baral says she would like to see the Quebec government impose additional measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as back-to-school approaches.
“Whether it’s ventilation in schools, better air quality, there are additional steps we can certainly take to make sure our ‘living with this virus’ strategy is a little bit safer for everyone involved,” he said.
In an interview with CBC Montreal’s Daybreak, Boileau said he is not recommending the return of any mandatory measures, such as wearing masks, particularly since no new variant has been identified in Quebec at this time.
He said public health is discussing bringing mobile vaccine clinics to schools in the coming weeks.
As for air quality in classrooms, he said those most at risk have been identified and fitted with CO2 reading devices.
title: “Why Uptake Of Covid Boosters Is Lagging In Quebec And Why It Matters Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-31” author: “Jason Decker”
But more than a year and a half later, as Quebec announced that a fifth dose will be available to all adults by the end of August, experts say few people will quickly line up for it. In fact, provincial data shows a declining interest in all COVID-19 boosters in recent months. According to the Quebec Ministry of Health, only 56 percent of the total eligible population has received a third vaccine – or their first booster dose. This number has remained unchanged for a month. Only 19 percent of the total eligible population has received a fourth dose — the vast majority of whom are age 60 and older. While federal and provincial Health officials said the best defense against a possible eighth wave and serious illness from the virus is to stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 doses, experts say there are several reasons why Quebecers are delaying getting their doses. Kim Lavoie, chair of behavioral medicine at UQAM, says that if the Quebec government doesn’t change its vaccination messages, Quebecers likely won’t get their next booster dose. (Jean-Claude Taliana/CBC) The chair of behavioral medicine at the Université du Québec à Montréal says the provincial government’s failure to be transparent and manage people’s expectations is one of them. “[The government] she said, ‘Oh, you know, you’re going to need two doses, and that’s the definition of fully vaccinated,’” said Kim Lavoie from the health department’s message at the start of the pandemic. While the government has continued to urge people — not unreasonably, according to Lavoie — to take more doses, she says this has led to confusion and mistrust about the benefits they provide. “I think that’s what we’re suffering from – the impression that the government doesn’t know what they’re talking about because they keep making promises and changing the contract.” Lavoie says that without concrete changes in the government’s messaging, she worries that Quebecers won’t get their next booster dose — never mind their fifth.
Waiting for updated booster for COVID
Dr. Matthew Oughton, an infectious disease specialist at Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital, says this slow uptake of booster shots is being seen across Canada. He expects this is partly due to people waiting to get Moderna’s new dual-valent vaccine, which was recently approved for use in the UK It is specifically designed to protect against the highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19 and is currently awaiting approval in Canada. It is unknown when it will be available. “I really expect to see a big jump in demand when the bivalent boosters are actually available,” he said, noting their stronger protection against the strain of the virus currently circulating in the country. But is the average person, with no risk of serious complications from COVID-19, better off getting some protection now or waiting an indefinite period of time for more protection later? Dr. Matthew Oughton says it’s better to get your next booster now than to wait for Moderna’s bivalent vaccine. (CBC) Prativa Baral, an epidemiologist, encourages people not to wait. “Since there are still high levels of COVID circulating right now, the best vaccine is the vaccine you have on hand,” he said. Oughton says that especially during the colder months, with the flu looming on the horizon, waiting for an upgraded dose can be dangerous. “[The current booster] At least it gives you protection against serious disease and would probably reduce the burden on health care facilities if there is a huge and relatively sudden increase in disease in the population,” he said. British health authorities have approved an updated version of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine that aims to protect against the original virus and the micron variant. (Rogelio V. Solis/The Associated Press)
Communicative value
Lavoie says now that millions of Quebecers have already contracted COVID-19 — some twice — people’s willingness to get another dose depends in part on their perception of risk. “As the perception of risk decreases, so does the willingness to make the sacrifice necessary to get a vaccine,” he said. The behavioral medicine expert says the Quebec government therefore needs to do a better job of communicating what the added value of getting a booster dose is in a clear and accessible way. He says changing people’s behavior boils down to three factors, which the government must work to address:
Awareness: The problem is that very few people receive booster shots. Motivation: This is how the boost will benefit you personally or align with your values. Trust: This is how accessible a booster dose is for you, in convenience, cost, ability to deal with side effects, etc.
A vaccine-only strategy is not the best method
On Wednesday, Quebec’s Director of Public Health, Dr. Luc Boileau, stated that the fifth dose, “as well as the others that may follow”, will be necessary to maintain immunity against COVID-19.
Baral says that while vaccines remain an important tool for preventing serious infections, a vaccine-only strategy, as she’s seen in many provinces, isn’t necessarily the best method — especially as people fail to keep up with their boosters.
Baral says she would like to see the Quebec government impose additional measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as back-to-school approaches.
“Whether it’s ventilation in schools, better air quality, there are additional steps we can certainly take to make sure our ‘living with this virus’ strategy is a little bit safer for everyone involved,” he said.
In an interview with CBC Montreal’s Daybreak, Boileau said he is not recommending the return of any mandatory measures, such as wearing masks, particularly since no new variant has been identified in Quebec at this time.
He said public health is discussing bringing mobile vaccine clinics to schools in the coming weeks.
As for air quality in classrooms, he said those most at risk have been identified and fitted with CO2 reading devices.
title: “Why Uptake Of Covid Boosters Is Lagging In Quebec And Why It Matters Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-25” author: “Gail Glenn”
But more than a year and a half later, as Quebec announced that a fifth dose will be available to all adults by the end of August, experts say few people will quickly line up for it. In fact, provincial data shows a declining interest in all COVID-19 boosters in recent months. According to the Quebec Ministry of Health, only 56 percent of the total eligible population has received a third vaccine – or their first booster dose. This number has remained unchanged for a month. Only 19 percent of the total eligible population has received a fourth dose — the vast majority of whom are age 60 and older. While federal and provincial Health officials said the best defense against a possible eighth wave and serious illness from the virus is to stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 doses, experts say there are several reasons why Quebecers are delaying getting their doses. Kim Lavoie, chair of behavioral medicine at UQAM, says that if the Quebec government doesn’t change its vaccination messages, Quebecers likely won’t get their next booster dose. (Jean-Claude Taliana/CBC) The chair of behavioral medicine at the Université du Québec à Montréal says the provincial government’s failure to be transparent and manage people’s expectations is one of them. “[The government] she said, ‘Oh, you know, you’re going to need two doses, and that’s the definition of fully vaccinated,’” said Kim Lavoie from the health department’s message at the start of the pandemic. While the government has continued to urge people — not unreasonably, according to Lavoie — to take more doses, she says this has led to confusion and mistrust about the benefits they provide. “I think that’s what we’re suffering from – the impression that the government doesn’t know what they’re talking about because they keep making promises and changing the contract.” Lavoie says that without concrete changes in the government’s messaging, she worries that Quebecers won’t get their next booster dose — never mind their fifth.
Waiting for updated booster for COVID
Dr. Matthew Oughton, an infectious disease specialist at Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital, says this slow uptake of booster shots is being seen across Canada. He expects this is partly due to people waiting to get Moderna’s new dual-valent vaccine, which was recently approved for use in the UK It is specifically designed to protect against the highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19 and is currently awaiting approval in Canada. It is unknown when it will be available. “I really expect to see a big jump in demand when the bivalent boosters are actually available,” he said, noting their stronger protection against the strain of the virus currently circulating in the country. But is the average person, with no risk of serious complications from COVID-19, better off getting some protection now or waiting an indefinite period of time for more protection later? Dr. Matthew Oughton says it’s better to get your next booster now than to wait for Moderna’s bivalent vaccine. (CBC) Prativa Baral, an epidemiologist, encourages people not to wait. “Since there are still high levels of COVID circulating right now, the best vaccine is the vaccine you have on hand,” he said. Oughton says that especially during the colder months, with the flu looming on the horizon, waiting for an upgraded dose can be dangerous. “[The current booster] At least it gives you protection against serious disease and would probably reduce the burden on health care facilities if there is a huge and relatively sudden increase in disease in the population,” he said. British health authorities have approved an updated version of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine that aims to protect against the original virus and the micron variant. (Rogelio V. Solis/The Associated Press)
Communicative value
Lavoie says now that millions of Quebecers have already contracted COVID-19 — some twice — people’s willingness to get another dose depends in part on their perception of risk. “As the perception of risk decreases, so does the willingness to make the sacrifice necessary to get a vaccine,” he said. The behavioral medicine expert says the Quebec government therefore needs to do a better job of communicating what the added value of getting a booster dose is in a clear and accessible way. He says changing people’s behavior boils down to three factors, which the government must work to address:
Awareness: The problem is that very few people receive booster shots. Motivation: This is how the boost will benefit you personally or align with your values. Trust: This is how accessible a booster dose is for you, in convenience, cost, ability to deal with side effects, etc.
A vaccine-only strategy is not the best method
On Wednesday, Quebec’s Director of Public Health, Dr. Luc Boileau, stated that the fifth dose, “as well as the others that may follow”, will be necessary to maintain immunity against COVID-19.
Baral says that while vaccines remain an important tool for preventing serious infections, a vaccine-only strategy, as she’s seen in many provinces, isn’t necessarily the best method — especially as people fail to keep up with their boosters.
Baral says she would like to see the Quebec government impose additional measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as back-to-school approaches.
“Whether it’s ventilation in schools, better air quality, there are additional steps we can certainly take to make sure our ‘living with this virus’ strategy is a little bit safer for everyone involved,” he said.
In an interview with CBC Montreal’s Daybreak, Boileau said he is not recommending the return of any mandatory measures, such as wearing masks, particularly since no new variant has been identified in Quebec at this time.
He said public health is discussing bringing mobile vaccine clinics to schools in the coming weeks.
As for air quality in classrooms, he said those most at risk have been identified and fitted with CO2 reading devices.
title: “Why Uptake Of Covid Boosters Is Lagging In Quebec And Why It Matters Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-06” author: “Martha Garza”
But more than a year and a half later, as Quebec announced that a fifth dose will be available to all adults by the end of August, experts say few people will quickly line up for it. In fact, provincial data shows a declining interest in all COVID-19 boosters in recent months. According to the Quebec Ministry of Health, only 56 percent of the total eligible population has received a third vaccine – or their first booster dose. This number has remained unchanged for a month. Only 19 percent of the total eligible population has received a fourth dose — the vast majority of whom are age 60 and older. While federal and provincial Health officials said the best defense against a possible eighth wave and serious illness from the virus is to stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 doses, experts say there are several reasons why Quebecers are delaying getting their doses. Kim Lavoie, chair of behavioral medicine at UQAM, says that if the Quebec government doesn’t change its vaccination messages, Quebecers likely won’t get their next booster dose. (Jean-Claude Taliana/CBC) The chair of behavioral medicine at the Université du Québec à Montréal says the provincial government’s failure to be transparent and manage people’s expectations is one of them. “[The government] she said, ‘Oh, you know, you’re going to need two doses, and that’s the definition of fully vaccinated,’” said Kim Lavoie from the health department’s message at the start of the pandemic. While the government has continued to urge people — not unreasonably, according to Lavoie — to take more doses, she says this has led to confusion and mistrust about the benefits they provide. “I think that’s what we’re suffering from – the impression that the government doesn’t know what they’re talking about because they keep making promises and changing the contract.” Lavoie says that without concrete changes in the government’s messaging, she worries that Quebecers won’t get their next booster dose — never mind their fifth.
Waiting for updated booster for COVID
Dr. Matthew Oughton, an infectious disease specialist at Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital, says this slow uptake of booster shots is being seen across Canada. He expects this is partly due to people waiting to get Moderna’s new dual-valent vaccine, which was recently approved for use in the UK It is specifically designed to protect against the highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19 and is currently awaiting approval in Canada. It is unknown when it will be available. “I really expect to see a big jump in demand when the bivalent boosters are actually available,” he said, noting their stronger protection against the strain of the virus currently circulating in the country. But is the average person, with no risk of serious complications from COVID-19, better off getting some protection now or waiting an indefinite period of time for more protection later? Dr. Matthew Oughton says it’s better to get your next booster now than to wait for Moderna’s bivalent vaccine. (CBC) Prativa Baral, an epidemiologist, encourages people not to wait. “Since there are still high levels of COVID circulating right now, the best vaccine is the vaccine you have on hand,” he said. Oughton says that especially during the colder months, with the flu looming on the horizon, waiting for an upgraded dose can be dangerous. “[The current booster] At least it gives you protection against serious disease and would probably reduce the burden on health care facilities if there is a huge and relatively sudden increase in disease in the population,” he said. British health authorities have approved an updated version of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine that aims to protect against the original virus and the micron variant. (Rogelio V. Solis/The Associated Press)
Communicative value
Lavoie says now that millions of Quebecers have already contracted COVID-19 — some twice — people’s willingness to get another dose depends in part on their perception of risk. “As the perception of risk decreases, so does the willingness to make the sacrifice necessary to get a vaccine,” he said. The behavioral medicine expert says the Quebec government therefore needs to do a better job of communicating what the added value of getting a booster dose is in a clear and accessible way. He says changing people’s behavior boils down to three factors, which the government must work to address:
Awareness: The problem is that very few people receive booster shots. Motivation: This is how the boost will benefit you personally or align with your values. Trust: This is how accessible a booster dose is for you, in convenience, cost, ability to deal with side effects, etc.
A vaccine-only strategy is not the best method
On Wednesday, Quebec’s Director of Public Health, Dr. Luc Boileau, stated that the fifth dose, “as well as the others that may follow”, will be necessary to maintain immunity against COVID-19.
Baral says that while vaccines remain an important tool for preventing serious infections, a vaccine-only strategy, as she’s seen in many provinces, isn’t necessarily the best method — especially as people fail to keep up with their boosters.
Baral says she would like to see the Quebec government impose additional measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as back-to-school approaches.
“Whether it’s ventilation in schools, better air quality, there are additional steps we can certainly take to make sure our ‘living with this virus’ strategy is a little bit safer for everyone involved,” he said.
In an interview with CBC Montreal’s Daybreak, Boileau said he is not recommending the return of any mandatory measures, such as wearing masks, particularly since no new variant has been identified in Quebec at this time.
He said public health is discussing bringing mobile vaccine clinics to schools in the coming weeks.
As for air quality in classrooms, he said those most at risk have been identified and fitted with CO2 reading devices.
