Seven-in-10 Canadians now support mandatory vaccination in public spaces, according to the latest Angus Reid survey, which also reveals that half of vaccinated Canadians now say unvaccinated persons do not deserve same priority for medical treatment. Additionally, one in five believe vaccine disrupters in public places should be arrested.
The survey comes amid a fourth wave of COVID-19 in Canada, which is being called a “pandemic of the unvaccinated.” While breakthrough infections of the vaccinated are perhaps more common than health officials had initially hoped, recent reports have stated that approximately 90% of new cases are now among the unvaccinated – driven by the highly contagious Delta variant.
In British Columbia, newly released data suggests that unvaccinated individuals are 34 times more likely to be hospitalized than vaccinated people of the same age.
Amid these challenges, new data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds rising support for mandatory vaccinations to enter public spaces as Canadians – the vast majority of whom are vaccinated – look for ways to end the fourth wave and the renewed restrictions that have accompanied it.
Seventy-five percent of poll respondents on Sept. 7 said proof of vaccination should be mandatory to attend large-scale events of more than 50 people (up from 69% on May 26); 70% believe the same for restaurants, theatres, churches, etc. (up from 55%); and 66% want their employer to mandate vaccinations for all staff (up from 55%).
Perhaps most surprisingly, support for proof of vaccination in public spaces is now a majority opinion in both Alberta and Saskatchewan, where Premiers Jason Kenney and Scott Moe have denounced the idea. In fact, 54% of Albertans now support proof of vaccination in public spaces, up from just 40% in late July.
Frustration within the largely vaccinated public is clear, with unvaccinated Canadians filling ICUs and forcing the continued cancellation of elective surgeries in multiple provinces. Now, half of vaccinated Canadians (46%) say that they do not believe that unvaccinated individuals should receive the same priority for treatment if they are sick with COVID-19. This worst-case scenario has been discussed in some American jurisdictions as ICU capacity has diminished, but so far triage based on vaccination status has remained only a discussion.
More key findings of the survey:
• Canadians prefer sticks over carrots to encourage the unvaccinated to get the jab. Three-quarters (77%) say provincial governments should use regulatory measures to increase vaccination, while one-in-three (33%) say governments should use incentives.
• One-in-five vaccinated Canadians (19%) believe those who refuse to show proof of vaccination at a public place, and refuse to leave the premises, should be arrested and charged with a crime. The largest group (44%) would prefer that the person be escorted off the premises but not punished further, while 29% would have them fined.
• While most vaccinated people across the country are split on the question of whether or not those who refuse the vaccine should receive the same access to medical care as the vaccinated, two-thirds of vaccinated Atlantic Canadians believe everyone should receive the same priority of treatment.