Survey: half of respondents plan to have children aged 5-11 vaccinated against COVID-19
Survey results by pollster Angus Reid suggest half of Canadian parents plan to have their elementary school-aged children vaccinated against COVID-19 right away.
Results released Monday show one in two of the 812 parents who responded will have their children vaccinated as soon as Health Canada approves one for the 5 to 11 age group.
Survey data indicated parents in Alberta were least likely to vaccinate their children in the specified age group, with 46 per cent affirming their intention to vaccinate as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Ontario showed the strongest favourable response with 54 per cent and the Manitoba-Saskatchewan region close behind at 53 per cent.
Among those respondents who decided against ever obtaining any vaccine for their children, Quebec and Alberta were highest at 30 per cent and 29 per cent respectively.
Nationally, 18 per cent of parents said they planned to take a wait-and-see approach to having their children vaccinated. Nine per cent of the total survey respondents fell into the ‘Not Sure’ category.
In a release accompanying the results, Angus Reid noted that COVID-19 cases have been rising in younger children in many parts of the country.
Though children are at relatively low risk of serious illness from the virus, concerns about spread to vulnerable populations have health officials voicing support for vaccination among youngsters.
In September, Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead of Manitoba’s Vaccine Implementation Task Force said the province is planning to be ready as soon as a COVID-19 vaccine is approved for younger children.
Reimer said the task force is looking at different options to provide that dose upon approval, which could include school-based immunizations.
“Regardless of whether or not we offer it in schools, we will still have medical clinics, our pharmacies, and, in more remote settings, our public health teams would be offering the vaccine to younger children once it’s approved,” Reimer said.
Angus Reid conducted a survey online from September 29 to Oct. 3 among a representative random sample of 5,011 adults. The company said a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/- 2.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
Houston braces for flooding to worsen in wake of storms
High waters flooded neighborhoods around Houston on Saturday following heavy rains that have already resulted in crews rescuing hundreds of people from homes, rooftops and roads engulfed in murky water.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
‘We made them safer and more fun’: Here’s what’s new about e-scooters
Electric scooters (e-scooters) have been gaining popularity in the capital and this season comes with some changes and updates.
Hulk Hogan, hurricanes and a blockbuster recording: A week in review of the Trump hush money trial
Crucial witnesses took the stand in the second week of testimony in Donald Trump's hush money trial, including a California lawyer who negotiated deals at the center of the case and a longtime adviser to the former president.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Canadian Auger-Aliassime reaches first Masters final in Madrid with another walkover
Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime has advanced to his first ATP Masters final, and he hasn't had to play all that much tennis to do it.