The start of the new school year this week in many of the province's school service centers, including those in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region, inspired this week's poll question for the Néomédia team. As the new school year gets underway, are you concerned about a resurgence in respiratory illnesses?

As thousands of schoolchildren head back to school at the end of August, respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19, whooping cough, bronchitis and others will also be on the rise. 

A few days ago, Justin Trudeau's government promised that a new version of the COVID-19 vaccine would be available this fall. This would be adapted to the variants in circulation, and doses would be sufficient to ensure a future vaccination campaign. 

Last July, the Quebec government confirmed that cases of pertussis, a highly contagious disease characterized by severe, uncontrollable coughing (coughing fits), were on the rise. In Quebec, between 240 and 1,600 cases of whooping cough are reported every year. 

In light of this information, Néomédia asks this week: With the start of the new school year, are you worried about a resurgence of respiratory illnesses?

The answer choices are: 

- Yes, unfortunately, as with every back-to-school season; 

- Yes, but I'll take precautions; 

- Yes, but I'm confident that the situation will remain under control; 

- No, I'm sure everything will be fine. 

To take the survey, click here.