Canadians want to see equitable distribution of vaccines globally: poll

Frontline workers and older adults started to receive COVID-19 vaccines at a vaccination site in Lima, Peru on 24 March 2021. (CNW Group/Canadian Unicef Committee)

TORONTO — Ahead of World Immunization Week, a new survey commissioned by UNICEF Canada reveals that while Canada is continuing to increase its rate of vaccinations, Canadians widely recognize that a global approach is the only way to fight COVID-19 and protect Canadians from its impacts.

Key findings include:

85% of Canadians agree that it is important COVID-19 vaccines are distributed fairly to all countries.
More than 8 out of 10 Canadians agree that vaccinating people in developing countries is just as important as vaccinating people in countries like Canada.
Two thirds of Canadians say Canada should be leading efforts to ensure lower-income countries have all the COVID-19 vaccine doses they need.
More than 8 out of 10 Canadians agree that Canada should donate its excess doses of COVID-19 vaccines to lower-income countries once it’s secured enough doses for all Canadians.

“Canadians care about global vaccine equity. World Immunization Week is a key moment to remind ourselves that, as Canadians, we can play a leading role in ensuring that COVID-19 vaccines are affordable and accessible to all,” said David Morley, president and CEO of UNICEF Canada in a statement. “The clock is ticking. As teachers, health care and social workers continue to work day and night to care for children in lower-income countries, COVID-19 vaccines must reach the arms of frontline workers in the hardest to reach communities as soon as possible.”

The federal government committed an additional $375 million to Canada’s international COVID-19 response in its 2021 budget, focusing on addressing the health needs in developing countries and providing support for equal access to the tools countries need to stop the spread of COVID-19.