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“The anti-vaccine movement is going to lead to a lot of people getting sick unnecessarily”

7 in 10 Canadians see the anti-vax movement as causing unnecessary illness.

According to a new study by Angus Reid Institute, 7 in 10 Canadians (71%) believe the anti-vaccine movement is going to lead to a lot of people getting unnecessarily sick.

The study found agreement among all age groups that the anti-vax movement will lead to unnecessary illness and suffering in the population.

“As some diseases such as measles and polio — thought to be worries of the past — have been breaking out globally and in Canada, many Canadians are expressing concern, even alarm, about waning vaccination acceptance in their country. Public health officials are warning of the potential of measles outbreaks in Canada as rates of vaccination against the disease decline. Alberta has seen an outbreak of whooping cough in the province, a disease that’s preventable by vaccination. However, only 30% or 40% of children are vaccinated against that disease in some parts of the province.”

“The anti-vaccine movement is going to lead to a lot of people getting sick unnecessarily”

According to ARI’s vaccine acceptance index, those who are anti-vax “overwhelmingly feel that vaccination is harmful and unnecessary, that the science isn’t settled, and that the body does not need vaccination to build up immunity to these illnesses.”

Conservatives (22%) are more than five times more likely to be anti-vax than Liberal (4%) and NDP (2%) voters. Overall 50% of Conservatives are sceptical of vaccines.

The study also found that Quebec has the highest percentage of Anti-Vax in Canada (15%), as well as the highest percentage of Vax Skeptics (31%) — those who are skeptical about vaccination but not dismissive.

The most pro-vaccine province in Canada is British Columbia, where 35% are categorized as Vax Proponents — who are largely supportive of vaccines but have some reservations — and 36% are considered Max Vaxxers — “those who feel vaccines are ‘very effective’ at ensuring better outcomes for both the individual and the community, who support mandatory vaccination for children, and who are not concerned about the potential for ‘significant’ side effects.” (For the complete table of results, please see page 10 in the report here.)

The Angus Reid Institute conducted an online survey from Feb. 16 to 19, 2024 among a representative randomized sample of 1,626 Canadian adults who are members of the Angus Reid Forum.


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