More Canadians willing to get the COVID-19 vaccine ASAP: poll

EDMONTON (660 NEWS) – As the COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Canada, we’re learning more about how many of us are willing to get the shot.

According to a new poll from Angus Reid, 79 per cent of those who responded say they want to get the shot either immediately or after a wait.

That’s a big jumped compared to last month when about 40 per cent said they would get the shot ASAP.

The poll also showed about 14 per cent of people don’t want the vaccine.

There is near-unanimous agreement that older and more at-risk people should get the vaccine first with fewer than one-in-ten saying it should be on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Among those who said they would wait to be vaccinated or not get a vaccine at all, about 70 per cent expressed concerns over the potential for long-term side effects.

When asked whether the vaccines should be mandatory in certain scenarios or places, a majority said it should be for healthcare workers and those in extended care homes.

The poll comes on the same day that the first shipments of the COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Canada.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are bound for 14 distribution sites across the country, across all 10 provinces, and more doses are expected to cross the border today.

Quebec is expected to be the first province to administer the vaccine, saying it’s prepared to start inoculating residents of two long-term care homes as early as Monday.

With files from The Canadian Press

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