Tensions high between vaccinated and unvaccinated in Canada, poll suggests
Posted Sep 27, 2021 5:54 am.
Last Updated Sep 27, 2021 6:37 pm.
A new poll suggests tensions over COVID-19 vaccines in Canada are high as frictions grow between those who are vaccinated against the virus and those who are not.
The Leger survey, conducted for the Association of Canadian Studies, found that more than three in four respondents hold negative views of those who are not immunized.
Association president Jack Jedwab says the relationships between vaccinated and unvaccinated Canadians are also viewed negatively by two out of three survey participants.
The online poll surveyed 1,549 Canadians between September 10 and 12.
“For people to be frustrated, for people to fed up, I totally get it. But what we really need to figure out, how to get around that anger, and really get to these individuals that are making this decision not to get vaccinated,” said Timothy Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy.
Caulfield isn’t surprised with the results of the poll, but says one of the main things Canadians need to do, is just listen.
“I know that’s really hard when we see these hardcore antivaxxers marching, but not all are these hardcore antivaxxers,” said Caulfield. “What’s really important is to listen, listen, listen and get a feel for what is happening.”
Meanwhile, registered nurse, Adam Henley, says he is concerned we have adopted a one-size-fits-all approach towards those who are unvaccinated.
There are different species of 'anti-vaxxer' AND they each have different needs to join the herd of vaccinated Albertans.
So… what's your 'anti-vaxxer' personality, Alberta?#COVID19AB pic.twitter.com/b1QS5Ff99i
— Adam Henley (@TheHenleyShift) September 19, 2021
“A lot of people who have gotten vaccinated themselves have had concerns, they have had private conversations with their health provider, with their family,” said Henley. “And so we are not that different from the unvaccinated. And making the unvaccinated feel different actually prevents us from influencing their behaviour.”
A margin of error cannot be assigned to online polls, as they are not considered truly random samples of the population.
The survey found vaccinated people consider the unvaccinated as irresponsible and selfish, a view contested by those who are not immunized.
