For a growing number of Canadians, it’s not shot of love.
The number of Canadians who say they’d line up for a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as one’s available is on the decline, concludes a new survey conducted by Angus Reid.
Released Friday, the survey says only 39% of those polled would seek out inoculation soon after one is made widely available in Canada.
Almost as many respondents — 38% — said they were content to wait, while 16% expressed what pollsters described as a “solid anti-vaccination stance.”
Meanwhile, 7% were undecided.
The number of Canadians eager for a vaccine has dropped since the summer, when in July 46% reported saying they’d seek vaccination as soon as they could.
Fears over side effects (73%) was the biggest motivator for those unwilling to be vaccinated, while 37% of those who would refuse the shot said they didn’t think it would be effective.
Alberta and Quebec — two provinces with among the highest per capita cases of COVID-19 infections — were also the most resistant to being vaccinated.
Of those who said they’d be willing to be an early vaccine recipient, 41% reported being worried about side effects — a concern that increases to 84% among those who would wait, and 92% among those who would refuse the vaccine altogether.
Those 55 and over were most likely to get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it were available, while males (24%) and females (20%) between 35 and 54 were most likely to refuse a vaccine altogether.
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
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