Canadian experts say easier access to COVID-19 booster shots is needed 

Easier access to COVID-19 vaccine boosters could be a way of addressing the plateauing rates of Canadians getting the shot, public health and immunology experts say.

Easier access to COVID-19 vaccine boosters could be a way of addressing the plateauing rates of Canadians getting the shot, public health and immunology experts say.

Matthew Miller, professor at McMaster University’s Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, said some may see the roll back of public health measures throughout the country as a signal that they no longer need to be as cautious about COVID-19 infection.

“The idea that we’re past the worst of things I think leads to a certain amount of apathy,” Miller said.

“I think that’s also compounded by the fact that there are a significant proportion of people in the population that aren’t vaccine hesitant, but also aren’t super enthusiastic about getting vaccinated.”

He said there was a sharp increase in immunization rates in Canada when governments brought in COVID-19 vaccination mandates.

“Now that those restrictions are also being dialed back and haven’t been applied to third doses, I think the incentive has just diminished,” Miller said.

“There is a certain segment of the population for whom I simply think it’s inertia and, without that sort of pressure point applied, they just aren’t that interested in going out of their way to get vaccinated, even though in principle they are willing.”

He said governments don’t have always have to resort to mandates to increase the uptake in vaccination rates. The answer can be eliminating barriers for some people.