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sask research finds vaccine mandates' effectiveness varies by age
u of s researchers say a larger national conversation is needed to address the erosion of trust at the root of vaccine refusal.
nov 14 2023
3 minute read
saskatchewan's version of the proof-of-vaccination apps that became commonplace on canadian smartphones in 2021, as provincial governments introduced proof-of-vaccination policies in an effort to curb the spread of covid-19. new research published this month in health affairs suggests mandates were an effective method of getting people to take a first dose of vaccine.
brandon harder
/
regina leader-post
the saskatchewan-based co-authors of a recently published paper on vaccine mandates are calling for governments to consider more age-specific measures if proof-of-vaccination requirements are ever needed again in the face of another pandemic.
“it doesn’t take that big of a ‘leap of faith’ to understand that younger people are active; they are socially active with places to go, people to see,” said professor nazeem mujaharine, explaining research that was recently released in the journal health affairs.
mujaharine, a professor of community health and epidemiology at the university of saskatchewan, was part of a team that assessed the effectiveness of policies introduced by the provinces in the fall of 2021 , requiring people to present proof of vaccination against covid-19 in order to partake in discretionary activities like visiting restaurants, sporting or entertainment venues.
the research determined just under 300,000 canadians got their first doses of vaccine within the first seven weeks of mandates being announced.
the mandates appeared most effective in spurring vaccine uptake among people younger than 50; data shows just the announcement of the impending mandates got many people to roll up their sleeves for the shots, “almost, like, the next day,” mujaharine said.
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the spike in vaccine uptake was not sustained, however. new doses eventually trailed off to pre-mandate levels. mujaharine suggested this showed the mandates were “quite a strong nudge” for people who had been delaying getting a vaccine, but who weren’t outright opposed to receiving one.
the 2021 vaccine mandates also met with considerable protest. an active anti-vaccination movement continues to this day.
mujaharine said future mandates likely won’t change many minds among the most committed anti-vaxxers. reaching these people will require a “back to basics” approach to address misinformation and mistrust, he suggested.
“this is not just only about not wanting to get a vaccine dose; this is not only about not wanting to wear a mask; it’s not just only about, you know, fill-in-the-blank, but underlying all of these might be this kind of erosion of trust.”
cheryl camillo, an associate professor at the johnson shoyama school of public policy at the university of regina, was also part of the team behind the research project.
she said she believes vaccine mandates are “still viable” as an effective response for governments to consider in future emergencies.
“if we entered a serious pandemic, like covid was, i think the public would want all those tools to be considered,” she said, echoing mujaharine’s comments on the need to ensure vaccine mandates are coupled with vaccine availability tailored to locations where specific age groups are most able to conveniently receive doses.
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camillo also acknowledged there will likely remain some portion of the population that won’t get vaccinated, simply on the grounds that the government wants them to do it.
she called for “a national conversation” reaching far beyond public health.
“right now, i believe we’re in a place in canadian society, not unlike the u.s., where people don’t feel responsible for themselves, really, or to each other. people see a one-way relationship, or they think the government should be there when they need something, but there’s no contract where they need to carry out responsibilities or demonstrate responsibilities in turn.”
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