Canada Faces Growing Concerns Over COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Paramedic Mental Health

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to take a toll on Canada, with a vaccine hesitancy expert expressing concern over the slow vaccination rate of children between the ages of five and 11, and paramedics calling for improved mental health services due to staff shortages and unprecedented call volumes. Preliminary data from Statistics Canada shows the pandemic contributed to an average seven-month decline in life expectancy, the largest decrease recorded since 1921. Meanwhile, ambulance-paramedic services across the country are reporting increases in call volumes and decreases in staff, with 92% of unionized paramedics in Ontario reporting they are understaffed and struggling with their mental and physical health.

Key Takeaways:

• Only 51% of children between the ages of five and 11 have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the two months since approval of child-sized doses.
• This is compared to more than 72% of 12 to 17-year-olds who received at least one dose in the two months following approval for that age range.
• The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to an average seven-month decline in life expectancy, the largest decrease recorded since 1921.
• 92% of unionized paramedics in Ontario reported being understaffed, with 46% of long-term disability claims in 2020 being related to mental health.
• The largest declines in life expectancy were observed in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia, with the drop greater for men at more than eight months compared to nearly five months for women.
• The Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals reported that ambulances were idled for a cumulative 17,000 hours in October due to limited staff.
• Union president Troy Clifford of the Ambulance Paramedics of B-C is calling for better wages and benefits to entice people to join and stay in the field.

Statistics:

• 51% of children between the ages of five and 11 have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the two months since approval of child-sized doses.
• 72% of 12 to 17-year-olds received at least one dose in the two months following approval for that age range.
• 92% of unionized paramedics in Ontario reported being understaffed.
• 46% of long-term disability claims in 2020 were related to mental health.
• The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to an average seven-month decline in life expectancy.
• The largest declines in life expectancy were observed in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia, with the drop greater for men at more than eight months compared to nearly five months for women.
• Ambulances were idled for a cumulative 17,000 hours in October due to limited staff.

Sources:

• Star staff and wire services The latest coronavirus news from Canada and around the world Tuesday.
• Statistics Canada, preliminary data on national life expectancy.
• Kate Allen, post-doctoral research fellow at Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases at the University of Toronto.
• Dave Deines, president of the Paramedic Association of Canada.
• CUPE in Ontario, survey of unionized paramedics.
• Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals, internal report.
• Manitoba Shared Health, statement.
• Troy Clifford, union president with the Ambulance Paramedics of B-C.