There has been a “notable increase” in the number of Canadians willing to be immunized against COVID-19 as soon as a vaccine is available to them.
That’s according to the latest data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute.
A month ago, around 40 per cent of Canadians said they were keen to be vaccinated as soon as possible, as opposed to a wait-and-see approach.
However, as of today, almost half of the people surveyed, 48 per cent, now want an immediate vaccination, according to the Angus Reid survey.
In terms of the specifics of the date, those 65 and over are among the most likely to say they’re eager to be immunized (61 per cent).
Canada has been one of the first countries globally to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
As a result, half in this country say the Trudeau government has done a “good job” securing vaccine for its citizens, while a majority express confidence in its ability to effectively manage distribution nationally (58%).
More key findings from the survey include:
*There is near unanimous agreement that older and more at-risk people should get the vaccine first. Fewer than one-in-10 say it should be “first come first served.”
*Among those who say they would wait to be vaccinated or not get a vaccine at all, the majority (70% per cent) express concerns over the potential for long-term side effects.
*Asked whether vaccination should be mandatory in certain scenarios or places, a majority say it should be for healthcare workers and those in extended care homes.
To see the full survey, go to angusreid.org/canada-covid-vaccine-december.
