Highlights from Cycle 1 of the COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Survey (CVCS)

The first cycle of the COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Survey (CVCS) was conducted in March and April of 2021. It targeted all adults living in the capital cities of the northern territories:

• Whitehorse, Yukon
• Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
• Iqaluit, Nunavut

In the territories, people in small communities are usually surveyed through home visits. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this wasn't possible.

Highlights

• 80% of residents in the 3 capitals were already vaccinated against COVID-19, while 16% were likely to get vaccinated and 4% were unlikely to get vaccinated.
• The proportion of people unlikely to get vaccinated was higher among those with less education (secondary education or less) and those with lower household income (less than $60,000).
• The most common reason for not getting a COVID-19 vaccine was "not wanting to be vaccinated at this time" (24%).
• The top reasons for not wanting to get vaccinated were:
  • concerns about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines
  • low risk of getting COVID-19
• Most residents of territorial capitals are confident that COVID-19 vaccines are safe (87%) and effective (88%).
• However, 18% don't trust COVID-19 vaccines because they believe they were developed too quickly, and 26% believe that physical distancing, frequent handwashing and wearing a mask are enough to protect them from the disease.
• Fewer than one-fifth of residents of territorial capitals trust vaccine information from friends or family (19%), while 11% believe information from alternative health providers.

Next steps

Data collection for Cycle 2 of the CVCS in the 10 provinces was completed on May 12, 2021. The survey results will be available in late June or July 2021.

A full report of the CVCS Cycle 1 is available. For more information about the COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Survey, please contact us at: phac.coverage-couvertures.aspc@canada.ca.