By: Thomas I. Likness
EBC News Service

(Eagle News) — A public opinion poll released Friday suggests nearly 20% of Canadians are either unsure or will not get the covid-19 vaccine.

The survey by Ipsos found women are more likely than men to express these vaccine-hesitant attitudes.

It also found they were almost twice as likely to say that they would definitely not get the vaccine.

Another group showing signs of vaccine hesitancy is younger Canadians.

Self-reported vaccination rates in younger age groups trail behind those of older age groups.

That might be partly due to the vaccine only being available very recently to these groups.

However, even when accounting for these who say they have not yet been vaccinated but want to be, 25% of Canadians aged 18 to 34 expressed reluctance towards the COVID-19 vaccine.

That compares to 18% of those aged 35 to 54 and 11% of those over 55.

Incentives could be a game changer.

Incentives, such as a chance to win $1 million in a lottery, cash reward valued at $100, and a paid day off from work, would convince about half of unvaccinated Canadians to change their minds.

But what is worrisome to public health officials is that nine percent of those asked would refuse the vaccine under any circumstances.

Ipsos poll conducted between June 11 and 14, 2021, surveying a sample of 1,001 Canadians over 18. The poll is accurate to within ± 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
(Eagle News Service)