From high hopes to disenchantment: A qualitative analysis of editorial cartoons on COVID-19 vaccines in Canadian newspapers.

In Canada, the first COVID-19 vaccine was approved for use in December 2020, marking the beginning of a large vaccination campaign. The campaign was not only unprecedented in terms of reach, but also with regards to the amount of information about vaccines that circulated in traditional and social media. This study's aim was to describe COVID-19 vaccine related discourses in Canada through an analysis of editorial cartoons. We collected 2172 cartoons about COVID-19 published between January 2020 and August 2022 in Canadian newspapers. These cartoons were downloaded and a first thematic analysis was conducted using the WHO-EPIWIN taxonomy (cause, illness, treatment, interventions, and information). From this, 389 cartoons related to COVID-19 vaccines were identified under the treatment category. These were subjected to a second thematic analysis to assess main themes (e.g., vaccine development, campaign progress, etc.), characters featured (e.g., politicians, public figures, public) and position with respect to vaccine (favorable, unfavorable, neutral). Six main themes emerged: Research and development of vaccines; Management of the vaccination campaign; Perceptions of and experiences with vaccination services; Measures and incentives to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake; Criticism of the unvaccinated; and Effectiveness of vaccination. Our analysis revealed a shift in attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination from high hopes to disenchantment, which may reflect some vaccine fatigue. In the future, public health authorities could face some challenges in maintaining confidence and high COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

« Gardez le vaccin au Sud » : mieux comprendre l'hésitation à la vaccination contre la COVID-19 au Nunavik

The COVID‑19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of vaccines to prevent infectious diseases, but also the issues related to vaccine acceptance among individuals and groups targeted by vaccination programs. The concept of vaccine hesitancy is now commonly used in public health spheres to refer to the fact that a portion of the population has significant doubts and concerns about vaccines that can lead to a vaccine refusal or delay. Most research on vaccine hesitancy focuses on individual knowledge, beliefs, values, attitudes, life trajectories and experiences. However, the focus on individual determinants of vaccine hesitancy can lessen the importance of broader structural and socio-cultural influences on attitudes and decisions about immunization. Based on interviews conducted in Nunavik, this article proposes to explore how organizational and historical factors, social norms, and shared values and beliefs about the etiology of COVID‑19 and the efficacy and usefulness of vaccines to prevent the virus, influence COVID‑19 vaccine hesitancy in Inuit communities.Alternate :La pandemia de la COVID‑19 evidenció la importancia de la vacunación para prevenir las enfermedades infecciosas, pero también los retos ligados a la aceptación de las vacunas entre individuos o grupos específicos. El concepto de desconfianza en la vacunación se volvió de uso común en la salud pública para referirse al hecho de que una parte de la población tiene temores importantes relacionados con la vacunación;temores que pueden llevar al rechazo o postergar la vacunación. La importancia de los conocimientos, creencias, valores, actitudes, trayectorias de vida y experiencias individuales en las investigaciones sobre la vacunación a veces puede ocultar la importancia de influencias estructurales y socioculturales más amplias sobre las actitudes y decisiones con respecto a la vacunación. A partir de entrevistas realizadas en Nunavik, este artículo se propone explorar cómo los factores organizacionales e históricos, las normas sociales, los valores y las creencias compartidas respecto a la etiología de la COVID‑19 y sobre la efectividad y el poder de las vacunas en la prevención, influyen sobre la desconfianza en la vacunación contra la COVID‑19 en las comunidades inuit.Alternate :La pandémie de la COVID‑19 a mis en évidence l'importance de la vaccination pour prévenir des maladies infectieuses, mais également les enjeux liés à l'acceptation des vaccins par les individus et groupes ciblés par les programmes. Le concept d'hésitation à la vaccination est désormais couramment utilisé en santé publique pour référer au fait qu'une partie de la population entretient des craintes importantes par rapport à la vaccination ;craintes qui peuvent mener à refuser ou à retarder la vaccination. L'accent important mis sur les connaissances, les croyances, les valeurs, les attitudes, les trajectoires de vie et les expériences individuelles dans les recherches sur la vaccination peut toutefois occulter l'importance des influences structurelles et socioculturelles plus larges sur les attitudes et décisions à l'égard de la vaccination. À partir d'entretiens menés au Nunavik, cet article propose donc d'explorer comment les facteurs organisationnels et historiques, les normes sociales, les valeurs et les croyances partagées à propos de l'étiologie de la COVID‑19 et à propos de l'efficacité et de la puissance des vaccins pour la prévenir, influent sur l'hésitation à la vaccination contre la COVID‑19 dans des communautés inuit.

Public health communication during the COVID-19 pandemic: perspectives of communication specialists, healthcare professionals, and community members in Quebec, Canada.

OBJECTIVES: Communication during a pandemic is key in ensuring adoption of preventive behaviours and limiting disease transmission. The aim of the study was to explore how communication specialists working in health and governmental institutions and healthcare professionals have communicated about COVID-19, and how different groups of the public have perceived official communications on COVID-19. METHODS: We conducted an exploratory qualitative study. Data were collected via individual semi-structured interviews and focus-group discussions. The Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) model was used as a theoretical framework to guide data interpretation. RESULTS: We interviewed 6 communication specialists and 5 healthcare professionals. Three focus groups were held with 23 participants (8 young adults, 9 Quebecers of Asian ethnicity, and 6 Quebecers who suffered harshly from economic consequences of the pandemic and measures). Although daily press conferences were rapidly implemented in Quebec, participants highlighted several communication challenges, including accuracy and credibility of information in a context of uncertainties and rapidly evolving knowledge. Participants also identified paternalism, stigmatization of some communities, and issues with promoting action and mobilization of some subpopulations as communication challenges. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the six core CERC principles have not all been applied systematically in communication interventions in Quebec. Despite some limitations, messages about COVID-19 risk were clearly and consistently communicated and were generally well understood by most Quebecers.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIFS: La communication en temps de pandémie joue un rôle clé dans l'adoption des comportements préventifs et le contrôle de la transmission de la maladie. Cette étude visait à explorer comment les spécialistes de la communication travaillant dans les institutions gouvernementales et de santé et les professionnels de la santé ont communiqué sur la COVID-19 et comment les différents groupes du public ont perçu les communications officielles sur la COVID-19. MéTHODE: Les données de cette étude qualitative exploratoire ont été recueillies à l'aide d'entretiens individuels semi-structurés et de groupes de discussion. Le modèle de la communication des risques en situation de crise et d'urgence (CERC) a été utilisé comme cadre théorique pour guider l'interprétation des données. RéSULTATS: Nous avons rencontré 6 experts en communication et 5 professionnels de la santé. Trois groupes de discussion ont eu lieu avec 23 participants (8 jeunes adultes, 9 Québécois d'origine asiatique et 6 Québécois ayant subi des conséquences financières importantes à cause de la pandémie et des mesures sanitaires). Bien que des conférences de presse quotidiennes aient été rapidement mises en place au Québec, les participants ont souligné plusieurs défis de communication, notamment en ce qui concerne l'exactitude et la crédibilité de l'information dans un contexte d'incertitudes et d'évolution rapide des connaissances. Les participants ont également identifié le paternalisme, la stigmatisation de certaines communautés et les problèmes de promotion de l'action et de mobilisation au sein de certaines sous-populations comme des défis de communication. CONCLUSION: Notre étude a démontré que les six principes fondamentaux du CERC n'ont pas tous été appliqués systématiquement dans les interventions de communication au Québec. Malgré certaines limites, les messages sur le risque lié à la COVID-19 ont été communiqués de manière claire et cohérente et ont été généralement bien compris par la plupart des Québécois.

Stigma and blame related to COVID-19 pandemic: A case-study of editorial cartoons in Canada.

The COVID-19 pandemic represents not only the spread of a highly contagious and potentially fatal virus, but also an outbreak of theories, rumors, discourses and representations trying to make sense of a crisis. In this article, we explore the issue of blame and stigma in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. We do so by studying editorial cartoons published about COVID-19 in ten mainstream Canadian newspapers between January 2020 and March 2021. We identified 203 editorial cartoons that highlight common discourses which blame or stigmatize specific groups of people for the origin or transmission of COVID-19, or for their behavior during the pandemic. The cartoons focused on four groups: 1) people of Chinese origin or descent and of other national/geographic provenance (Americans, Canadians from specific provinces, urban residents); 2) international travelers; 3) people who do not respect the preventive measures to contain the pandemic; and 4) people who question or criticize the scientific discourses about COVID-19. Our analysis revealed an "othering process" common in times of pandemic. Our analysis of editorial cartoons in Canada also uncovered a moralization around the respect of the counter measures against COVID-19. These editorial cartoons largely divide the population into two groups: 1) "virtuous" people who are "selfless" and "smart" and who respect the public health preventive measures; 2) those who are "immoral", "self-centered", "silly" and even "stupid", who do not respect the recommended measures to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. While negatively portraying these individuals may help promote adherence to the recommended measures, it also can exacerbate polarization. Analyzing editorial cartoons can be a useful approach to rapidly gather information on attitudes and feelings in the public at a specific time and place.

COVID-19 vaccination in 5-11 years old children: Drivers of vaccine hesitancy among parents in Quebec.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was recently authorized for Canadian children aged 5 to 11 years old. Previous studies have indicated that low parental vaccination intention can be anticipated. To better understand drivers of vaccine hesitancy among parents of 5-11 years old children, four focus group discussions were conducted. Interviewed parents generally showed little concern about the risk of COVID-19 for their child(ren) and many mentioned that children are at low risk of complications from COVID-19. Out of 28 participants, seven intended to vaccinate their child(ren) while the remaining were unsure or unwilling. Even if parents were themselves vaccinated, many hesitated for their child(ren). These parents perceived that it was unnecessary (due to low risk of complications) and were concerned about risks of side effects. Clear communication on vaccine safety and usefulness will be critical to reassure parents and foster vaccine acceptance.

COVID-19 vaccination attitudes and intention among Quebecers during the first and second waves of the pandemic: findings from repeated cross-sectional surveys.

The availability of safe and effective vaccines is a major breakthrough in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the success of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign relies on high uptake by the public. We monitored Quebecers' attitudes and intention toward COVID-19 vaccination during the first and second waves of the pandemic. Since March 2020, online surveys are conducted every week in Quebec (Canada) to assess Quebecers' adherence to recommended public health measures (3,300 respondents are surveyed every week through an online panel; respondents are not invited to answer the survey for 21 days after responding). Ten items measured respondents' attitudes and intentions regarding COVID-19 vaccination. Logistic regression models were used to identify determinants of intention to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Intention to be vaccinated against COVID-19 ranged from 76%-66% between the first and second waves. The proportion of undecided adults remained stable (12%). Being a man; being 60 years of age and over; having a university education level; having or living with someone with chronic medical conditions and increased risk perceptions of COVID-19 were the strongest predictors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in multivariate analysis. During data collection, COVID-19 vaccine supply was very limited. It was reassuring to note that intention to be vaccinated is the highest among older age groups that are prioritized to be vaccinated first. As more doses and vaccines will be available it will be important to enhance vaccine acceptance and uptake, especially among adults younger than 60 years of age and Quebecers with lower risk perceptions of COVID-19.