COVID-19: Two-thirds in BC ready for a booster, but vaccine skepticism is significant

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Two in three vaccinated British Colombians are ready to receive a booster shot against COVID-19 as soon as they are eligible, one of the highest rates in Canada, according to a new Angus Reid Institute survey.

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While the 66 per cent in BC who have received at least a couple of doses say they are ready to take another injection when offered, the Canadian average is just over 60 per cent. There are also many skeptics about the effectiveness of vaccines in the province, and our neighbors to the east are even more reluctant.

Nine percent in BC say they are unvaccinated, which is about the national average, compared to 16 percent in Alberta, the highest rate of non-vaccination in the country.

Taking people of all vaccination states into account, 60 percent in BC will roll up their sleeves when eligible, slightly above the national rate of 56 percent. That number is just 47 percent in Alberta and 46 percent in Saskatchewan.

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Health officials across Canada are urging people to get a fourth vaccine, with some provinces, including BC, planning booster drives in the fall, to guard against the latest wave of COVID-19 fueled by the BA variant.5 from Omicron. That strain has been shown to be highly contagious and capable of evading protection against infection with earlier strains.

Meanwhile, skepticism about the effectiveness of vaccines is growing, even among the vaccinated. For example, among Canadians who have received one or two injections, only 17 percent say they will seek a booster. And 22 percent of Canadians say they don’t think keeping up with boosters provides protection against serious infection or illness.

The most prepared and willing among vaccinated Canadians are men and women over the age of 54, at 73% and 81%, respectively. Most reluctant are men under the age of 55, 36 percent of whom say they believe the fourth dose is completely unnecessary.

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As vaccine makers work to modify their products to better combat emerging variants like Omicron, there is a split among those who say they are willing to get an annual booster dose as long as health officials recommend it. Sixty-two percent say they are willing to get the annual vaccine; 30 percent are unwilling; and eight percent are not sure.

Those who are most interested in getting boosters are eager to get one right away: 54 per cent of Canadians say their province should offer a fourth dose as soon as possible. Fewer than one in five (18 percent) would wait until the fall. A quarter (25 percent) think there is no need to offer widespread reinforcement at all.

The Angus Reid Institute self-commissioned the online survey of 1,583 Canadian adults who are members of the Angus Reid forum from July 13-15. It has a margin of error of plus/minus two percentage points, 19 times out of 20.