Community Report: What We Heard About COVID-19 Vaccine Behaviour From MNO Citizens
Press Release
May 2, 2023
The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging and stressful for Métis Nation of Ontario communities, bringing with it new changes, disruptions, and isolation. Until recently, little was known about the unique experiences of Metis people in Ontario and beyond its borders. Therefore, it proved essential that the MNO and its partners collect timely data on citizens’ experiences in order to better understand COVID-19, its impacts, and the various influences on vaccine behavior in MNO citizens. This high quality and timely data collected would also prove useful in informing the development of MNO programs, services and strategies to improve the overall health and wellbeing of MNO citizens.
This newly released Community Report – What We Heard about COVID-19 vaccine behaviour in MNO citizens was the first Metis-specific study to explore COVID-19 vaccine behaviour in Ontario. In February of 2021, the MNO launched a study that focused on:
- Collecting population-based survey data on MNO citizens’ plans to be vaccinated and
- In-depth interviews to explore thoughts, attitudes and beliefs related to the COVID-19 vaccines.
Over 4405 citizens participated in the ground-breaking study!
Initial data collected in March 2021 revealed that 71% of the citizens who participated planned to be vaccinated, 18% were unsure, and 11% did not plan to be vaccinated. By June 2022, data showed that 87% of MNO citizens had received the vaccine.
Common areas MNO citizens talked about factoring into their vaccine decision included:
- influence from their family, friends and kin networks,
- interaction with health professionals, and
- trust in the vaccine
Research also showed that MNO citizens who planned to be vaccinated were more likely to believe:
- COVID-19 vaccines were safe [confidence]
- vaccination was a [collective action] to prevent the spread of disease, and
- COVID-19 disease was severe [complacency]
How does the MNO measure vaccine hesitancy?
Vaccine hesitancy is measured by what are called the “5Cs”. These are five aspects that have been shown to influence an individual’s attitude and decision on vaccination:
Confidence, Complacency, Constraints, Calculation, and Collective responsibility.
”Odds Ratios” are applied, which evaluate the strength of association between two measures, one being an “outcome” or health behaviour.
For example, what are the odds/likelihood of planning to be vaccinated when citizens agreed they were ‘confident’ the COVID-19 vaccines were completely safe?
(OR shows 19x more likely than opposed, 6x more likely than unsure).
Thanks to citizen participation in this ground-breaking new research opportunity, researchers established key insights into how Métis communities have coped with and responded to the pandemic. We hope that by returning this Community Report to the community, the data shared within provides you with the tools and knowledge to inform and shape your own understanding of COVID-19, vaccination, and the overall impact of both on Métis communities.
Click here to read the Community Report
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