The vast majority of Canadians believe vaccines are effective, and about three quarters of the country agrees people who oppose childhood vaccines are “irresponsible,” a new poll suggests.
The Angus Reid poll released Friday comes as cases of measles spike in some parts of the United States and Canada.
Doubts over vaccines have gained enough traction that Health Minister Rona Ambrose spoke out in favour of vaccines recently, calling them “miracles of modern medicine” and warning that children were being put at risk by the anti-vaccination movement.
The poll, which was conducted from Feb. 9 to 11, found broad support for vaccinations:
Eighty-eight per cent of respondents said vaccinations prevent diseases in individuals, while slightly less (86 per cent) said they were effective for the community as a whole.
Eighty-three per cent said they would vaccinate their own children.
Seventy-four per cent agreed people who oppose childhood vaccinations are “irresponsible.”
Almost two thirds of respondents (63 per cent) said vaccinations should be mandatory.
Despite the strong numbers in favour of vaccines, the poll suggests there are still doubts: Almost two in five respondents (39 per cent) said they agree that “the science on vaccinations isn’t quite clear.”
About three in ten respondents believed “serious” side effects may accompany vaccinations.
Shachi Kurl, senior vice president at Angus Reid, said perhaps there are some gaps in communicating the efficacy and science of vaccines.
“At the same time, it doesn’t seem to be affecting the overall Canadian view of whether or not vaccines work,” Kurl said. “Perhaps Canadians don’t feel that they need to know that the science is clear in order to understand that they work.”
Regional variations
There were also regional variations, with Quebec showing the lowest belief in vaccines (75 per cent) and the most widespread agreement with a risk of serious side effects (35 per cent.)
“Quebecers, compared to the rest of Canada, are a little bit more equivocal, are more divided on some key issues, but overall, the majority in Quebec still say vaccines are effective,” Kurl said.
People aged 18 to 34 and people with a high school education or less were also slightly less inclined to say vaccines are effective.
Respondents more prone to agreeing vaccines are effective included Atlantic Canadians, people over the age of 55, and people with university degrees.
The survey was self-commissioned by the Angus Reid Institute and involved 1,509 Canadian adults. The margin of error for a survey this size is plus or minus 2.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
