A new poll has found most of us in Atlantic Canada believe workers in specific fields should be fired for refusing to get vaccinated.
The survey out from Angus Reid says roughly 70 per cent of Atlantic Canadians polled support passing a pink slip to employees in various fields if they do not get the jab.
Those industries include healthcare workers, first responders, teachers, and restaurant workers.
The highest support was for the firing of onboard airline employees at 77 per cent.
Angus Reid says most Canadians feel the same way.
Support for the firing of employees who are unvaccinated is highest in British Columbia, Atlantic Canada, and Ontario.
The Prarie provinces and Quebec are the least enthusiastic about the mandatory vaccine measures overall.
The vaccine status of respondents also played a role in their views, according to the pollster. Those who have not rolled up their sleeves for a shot were less likely to support the dismissal of an unvaccinated employee.
Concerns over contracting COVID-19
The survey also looked at how Canadians are feeling when it comes to concerns over contracting the virus.
Half of those polled are still worried they might get it.
“Those who are vaccinated are much more likely to say they are concerned (55%) than those who are not (19%),” Angus Reid says.
Meantime, three in five remain concerned about loved ones contracting COVID-19.
Both measures are down when compared to previous polls.
Canada’s vaccination program and distribution equity
The poll gauged the feelings of Canadians when it comes to the continued rollout of the country’s vaccination program.
The current focus is on delivering booster shots and immunizing kids.
Most provinces, including Nova Scotia, are rolling out third shots to seniors, frontline workers, and those who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19.
Meantime, Health Canada is reviewing vaccines for children aged five to 11.
Officials expect that age group will be on the radar to be vaccinated later this month.
Angus-Reid asked respondents if they want the focus to remain at home or shift to helping less wealthy countries.
Roughly 65 per cent of people in high-income countries have had at least one dose of the vaccine. In low-income countries, it’s just five per cent.
“Canadians are split between prioritizing distribution domestically or abroad,” Angus Reid says. “Two-in-five say the focus should be on doing whatever can be done to beat COVID-19 in Canada first, while a similar number believe the focus should shift to getting first doses to countries with little access to the vaccine.”
Residents are divided in most regions across the nation, except in Quebec where 52 per cent want the focus to shift to helping others.
Like Quebec, younger Canadians also want our efforts to turn to other countries.
The majority of respondents between the ages of 18 and 34 told the pollster it’s what Canada should do.
Canadians 55 and older would prefer the focus remain at home with booster shots and pediatric vaccines.
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**The Angus Reid Institute carried out an online survey from November 3 – 7, 2021 among a representative randomized sample of 1,611 Canadian adults who are members of Angus Reid Forum. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
