Over the past few months, we’ve been monitoring public perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccines among Canadians and Americans.
Recently, Canada’s federal government has been criticized for how they have responded to the slowdowns in vaccine deliveries from Pfizer and Moderna. In the February 16 edition of our North American Tracker, we explored Canadians’ and Americans’ perspectives about COVID-19 vaccines. We asked Canadians a more specific series of questions related to the delays in vaccine shipments that Canada experienced in early to mid-February.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE COVID-19 VACCINES?
Do you intend to get a COVID-19 vaccine when you can, or do you think vaccines are dangerous? If you’re Canadian, are you confident that the Government of Canada will meet its objective to vaccinate all Canadians who want to receive a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of September 2021, or do you doubt they’ll deliver? Do you feel the Government of Canada or your provincial government is more responsible for the recent delays?
Are your intentions and perspectives different than or similar to others who live in your country? Keep reading to find out!
SOME KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR RECENT SURVEY…
WHO INTENDS TO GET VACCINATED (AND WHO DOESN’T)?
73% of Canadians and 56% of Americans report that they will get a COVID-19 vaccine when one that is Health Canada/FDA-approved is available.
In both Canada and the United States, men and those aged 55 or older are more likely to say they intend to get vaccinated. In Canada, British Columbians are more likely than residents of all other provinces to say they intend to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
14% of Canadians and 29% of Americans indicate they do not intend to get vaccinated when a Health Canada/FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine is available.
Interestingly, younger Canadians and Americans (aged 18-34) are more likely to indicate they do not intend to get vaccinated.
DO CANADIANS THINK THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA WILL MEET ITS VACCINATION OBJECTIVE?
We asked Canadians how confident they are that the Government of Canada will meet its objective of vaccinating all Canadians who wish to receive a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of September 2021.
Overall, 44% are confident, and 51% are not confident.
WHAT ARE CANADIANS’ PERSPECTIVES ON THE VACCINATION DELAYS IN CANADA?
We also asked Canadians to tell us who they feel is more responsible for the delay in delivering vaccines to Canadians: the federal government or their provincial government. 69% of Canadians feel that Canada’s delay in delivering vaccines is due more to the federal government’s capacity to obtain doses versus their provincial government’s capacity to deliver the vaccine (14%).
As of February 18, the Government of Canada has indicated that deliveries of COVID-19 vaccines are back on track, and according to the Public Health Agency of Canada, “Canada should receive millions more doses than originally anticipated between now and September.”1 Will this news impact Canadians’ confidence in the federal government’s vaccination objectives? Only time will tell.
To download the full report, including the survey methodology, click here.
WHEN IT COMES TO COVID-19 VACCINES, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR CANADA/THE UNITED STATES WILL BE IN THE COMING MONTHS?
TELL US IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.
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