It’s time Canada shifts its vaccination efforts to focus on less wealthy countries

As Canada and many other wealthier countries administer third and fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, almost 40% of the world’s total population still hasn’t received even one. Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau has stated on numerous occasions that “the pandemic isn’t over anywhere until it’s over everywhere.” According to a new study by the Angus Reid Institute, the plurality of Canadians believe it’s time that Canada shifts its vaccination efforts to focus on less wealthy countries.

“In December, the WHO set a goal to have 70% of the world’s population vaccinated against COVID-19 by the middle this year. The concern is that future variants will continue to emerge in countries where large populations of people are unvaccinated, and the virus will have opportunities to spread and mutate. The argument from health experts is that wealthy countries need to do their part to vaccinate the world to keep their own countries safe from COVID.

“The efforts to get vaccines from high income countries to low income ones has been hindered by wealthy countries falling behind on the doses they promised to send, as well as sending doses that were near expired.”

—Angus Reid Institute

46% of Canadians now want Canada to shift the focus to vaccinating those in less wealthy countries, the highest level since first measured in June 2021. 2 in 5 Canadians (39%) disagree.

For the first time, plurality want Canada to shift its vaccination efforts to focus on less wealthy countrieshttps://t.co/ZRfMUIYtKk pic.twitter.com/rgEg44W5jZ

— Angus Reid Institute (@angusreidorg) January 26, 2022

For the complete results and methodology, please visit the Angus Reid Institute website.

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