Ranking the relative importance of COVID-19 vaccination strategies in Canada: a priority-setting exercise.
CMAJ Open
; 9(3): E848-E854, 2021.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1399642
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
When vaccine supplies are anticipated to be limited, necessitating the vaccination of certain groups earlier than others, the assessment of values and preferences of stakeholders is an important component of an ethically sound vaccine prioritization framework. The objective of this study was to conduct a priority-setting exercise to establish an expert stakeholder perspective on the relative importance of COVID-19 vaccination strategies in Canada.METHODS:
The priority-setting exercise included a survey of stakeholders that was conducted from July 22 to Aug. 14, 2020. Stakeholders included clinical and public health expert groups, provincial and territorial committees and national Indigenous groups, patient and community advocacy representatives and experts, health professional associations and federal government departments. Survey results were analyzed to identify trends.RESULTS:
Of 155 stakeholders contacted, 76 surveys were received for a participation rate of 49%. During a period of anticipated initial vaccine scarcity for all pandemic scenarios, stakeholders generally considered the most important vaccination strategy to be protecting those who are most vulnerable to severe illness and death from COVID-19. This was followed in importance by strategies to protect health care capacity, minimize transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and protect critical infrastructure.INTERPRETATION:
This priority-setting exercise established that there is general alignment in the values and preferences across stakeholder groups the most important vaccination strategy at the time of limited initial vaccine availability is to protect those who are most vulnerable. The findings of this priority-setting exercise provided a timely expert perspective to guide early public health planning for COVID-19 vaccines.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Vaccination
/
COVID-19 Vaccines
/
COVID-19
/
Health Priorities
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
/
Randomized controlled trials
Topics:
Vaccines
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
North America
Language:
English
Journal:
CMAJ Open
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
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