While the debate of mandatory vaccinations has crept its way back into British Columbia politics in light of the ongoing measles outbreak in Vancouverat least one-fifth of Canadians in a recent survey say say vaccinations should be a parent’s choice, and not mandatory.

Image/ mohamed_hassan via pixabay
Image/ mohamed_hassan via pixabay

According to the public opinion survey by the Angus Reid Institute published this week, the vast majority of Canadians (70%) saying vaccinations against common deadly diseases should be a requirement for children entering school.

Eighty-three percent of Canadians surveyed say they would vaccinate their children without hesitation; however, 29 per cent are of the view that the science on vaccinations isn’t “quite clear”.

One-quarter of Canadians say (26%)they are concerned about the risk of side effects for those being vaccinated.

According to data from the Public Health Agency of Canada as of 2015, 89 per cent of children were vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella, by the age of two, while 88 per cent had received the meningococcal C vaccine at the same age. The rates for multi-dose vaccines is slightly lower, but still hovers around four-in-five.