Survey finds most Canadians support COVID-19 vaccine passports; do Mississauga and Brampton residents agree?
Published May 2, 2021 at 3:15 pm
A recent survey found that most Canadians are in support of a COVID-19 vaccine passport for travelling and entering the country, but are more divided on needing one for day-to-day activities.
Ipsos surveyed Canadian residents on their thoughts about a potential record or health data certificate (printed or electronic) that would prove someone has been vaccinated against COVID-19 or has recently tested negative for COVID-19.
“In Canada, the picture is nuanced: there is strong support for using vaccine passports for travelers and large events, but more skepticism about their role in day-to-day life,” said Ipsos.
“Six in ten Canadians (61%) — compared to a global average of 54% — say that only people who have been vaccinated should be allowed to do things that involve larger groups of people, such as public transit, flying, or attending cultural and sports events.”
By contrast, 39% of Canadians feel that limiting activities only to those who have been vaccinated is unfair to those who are ineligible, are waiting for a vaccine, or choose not to be vaccinated.
While there hasn’t been much talk yet from local leadership on whether Mississauga and Brampton will require COVID-19 vaccine passports, the survey says a majority of Canadians expect vaccine passports to be widely used in Canada by the end of this year.
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Survey responses were more split on whether places like shops, restaurants, and offices should require a vaccine passport: just under half (47%) agree, while nearly as many 45% disagree, and 8% not sure.
While Canadians are theoretically in favour of requiring some proof of COVID-19 vaccination to be shown in settings where people gather, fewer feel at ease in sharing details of their own vaccination status with anybody other than their doctor. Only half (54%) of employed Canadians feel comfortable allowing their employer to access their personal health data and vaccination record.
Similarly, just 59% would be comfortable letting the Canadian government access this information, and only 30% would feel comfortable with private companies accessing it.
“Vaccine passports are seen as a temporary measure, both in Canada and around the world. If a vaccine certificate or passport is introduced, nearly two in ten Canadians (17%) think it should be required indefinitely for activities and travel,” said Ipsos.
Survey participants said the passport should be required:
- Only for a few months until the numbers drop: 25%
- At least until the end of the year: 32%
- For the next several years: 26%
- Indefinitely: 17%
The full survey data is available here.
Do you think a COVID-19 vaccine passport should be required in Mississauga and Brampton?
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