Two-thirds of Toronto parents ‘certain or somewhat likely’ to get young kids vaccinated against COVID-19, survey says
Only one in four parents of young children believe vaccinations are necessary, a new survey says.
Vaccine hesitancy is on the rise, according to a new survey that shows two-thirds of Toronto parents “certain or somewhat likely” to get their children vaccinated against Covid-19.
The survey, conducted March 3-4 among 1,000 residents, found that more than half would not vaccinate their kids.
Despite this, the survey found that most Toronto residents think vaccines for non-H1N1 flu were a success.
The study found that 44 per cent of respondents “strongly” or “somewhat strongly” disagreed with the statement that the H1N1 vaccine was a worthwhile vaccine for children. This is down from 53 per cent in 2016.
The results of the University of Toronto’s poll come after it was announced on Wednesday that Toronto Health and Family Services is going to increase its vaccination rate.
“If we don’t do it, that [flu vaccination] rate could go down,” said Dr. Eric Chu, medical director of Toronto’s public health unit.
“I don’t want to see rates go down, but I also don’t want to see them stay steady, because it’s a health care issue. We know we have a number of individuals who are vulnerable, who are ill, that we would like to see protected.”
The survey was conducted by The Forum Research.
But the city has not increased its rate, Chu said. Parents should call or visit their local health unit to make an appointment if they wish to get the H1N1 vaccine.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a ‘surge’,” he said.
Health officials said they want to vaccinate 1,500 children by the end of May. Of those, 150 per cent would get the H1N1 vaccine.
The survey is the latest data on vaccine hesitancy, a phenomenon that has been on the rise since the swine flu vaccine was administered in 2009.
In the past, about half of Americans and Canadians believed vaccines were necessary
