Why uptake in COVID boosters is lagging in Quebec — and why that matters

When COVID-19 vaccinations were first made available in Quebec back in December 2020, thousands of Quebecers waited eagerly for a chance to roll up their sleeve and benefit from the protection against the virus the vaccine afforded. 

But more than a year and a half later, as Quebec announced that a fifth dose will be made available to all adults by the end of August, experts say few people will be quick to line up for it. 

In fact, provincial data shows a waning interest in all COVID-19 boosters over the past few months. According to Quebec's Health Ministry, only 56 per cent of the total eligible population has received a third shot — or their first booster dose. That number has remained unchanged for a month.

Only 19 per cent of the total eligible population has received a fourth dose — the vast majority of whom are aged 60 and over. 

While federal and provincial health officials have said the best defence against a potential eighth wave and severe illness from the virus is getting up to date with COVID-19 doses, experts say there are several reasons why Quebecers are holding off on getting their shots.

The chair of behavioural 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] said, 'oh, you know, you're going to need two doses and that is the definition of fully vaccinated," said Kim Lavoie of the Health Ministry's messaging at the start of the pandemic. 

While the government has gone on to urge people — not unreasonably, according to Lavoie — to get more doses, she says this has led to confusion and mistrust over the benefits they provide. 

"I think that's what we're suffering from — from an impression that the government doesn't know what they're talking about because they keep making promises and changing the contract."

Lavoie says without concrete changes to the government's messaging, she worries Quebecers won't get their next booster dose — never mind their fifth.

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 due in part to people waiting to get Moderna's new bivalent vaccine, which was recently authorized for use in the U.K.  It is specifically designed to protect against the highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19 and is currently awaiting approval in Canada. It's unknown when it would be available. 

"I actually expect to see a big jump in demand once the bivalent boosters are actually available," he said, noting their stronger protection against the strain of virus that's currently circulating in the country. 

But is the average person, with no risks of severe complications from COVID-19, better off getting some protection now or waiting an indefinite period of time for more protection later?