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. 2020 Dec;111(6):945-952.
doi: 10.17269/s41997-020-00423-1. Epub 2020 Nov 5.

A public health timeline to prepare for COVID-19 vaccines in Canada

Noni E MacDonald  1 , Jeannette Comeau  2 , Eve Dubé  3 , Lucie Bucci  4 , Janice E Graham  2
Affiliations

A public health timeline to prepare for COVID-19 vaccines in Canada

Noni E MacDonald et al. Can J Public Health. 2020 Dec.

Abstract
in English, French

For control of COVID-19, community immunity is required, necessitating widespread immunization. COVID-19 vaccines are coming to Canada, with the government announcing in August 2020 agreements with four different companies for their COVID-19 vaccine if their trials are successful. Never before has public health had to rapidly develop a vaccine introduction program for multiple new but differing vaccines with the added pressure that the program is needed across all ages and in all Canadian communities and there is high probability of not enough vaccine to go around at the start. Traditional public health vaccine introduction planning will need to be both accelerated and more comprehensive to ensure optimal uptake across the country. This overview highlights a number of points for consideration by public health in their planning for COVID-19 vaccines before these COVID-19 vaccines are available, once they are available, once supplies are plentiful, and throughout the vaccine program. Targeted and tailored communications are key elements needed to reach and positively influence diverse communities, regions, ages, languages, education levels and lived experiences.

RéSUMé: Pour contrôler la pandémie de la COVID-19, une immunité de groupe est requise, ce qui nécessite de la vaccination à grande échelle. Des vaccins contre la COVID-19 seront bientôt disponibles au Canada, le gouvernement ayant annoncé en août 2020 des ententes pour obtenir les vaccins de quatre compagnies différentes si leurs essais sont couronnés de succès. Jamais auparavant la santé publique a eu à préparer rapidement l’introduction d’un nouveau programme avec plusieurs nouveaux vaccins, sans compter la pression supplémentaire liée au fait que le programme visera tous les groupes d’âges, devra rejoindre l’ensemble des communautés canadiennes et qu’il n’y aura probablement pas suffisamment de vaccins pour tous au moment de démarrer le programme. Les stratégies de santé publique pour l’introduction de programme de vaccination devront à la fois être accélérées et plus détaillées pour assurer une couverture vaccinale optimale à travers le pays. Cet article survole différents éléments à considérer par les autorités de santé publique dans la planification des programmes de vaccination contre la COVID-19 avant que les vaccins soient disponibles, lorsqu’ils le seront, lorsque l’approvisionnement en vaccins sera abondant et à travers le programme de vaccination. Des communications adaptées et ciblées sont des éléments essentiels pour rejoindre et influencer positivement les Canadiens provenant de différentes communautés et régions et ayant différents âges, langues maternelles, niveaux de scolarité et expériences.

Keywords: COVID-19 immunization; COVID-19 vaccines; Communication; Pandemic control; Public health.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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