24% of Canadians Declined Doctor-Recommended Vaccines

OTTAWA Nearly one-quarter of Canadians surveyed said they declined a vaccine recommended by their doctor, with concerns about potential side effects cited as the most common reason, according to a report released Thursday by Proof Strategies.

The survey, part of the firm's annual trust index, polled 1,501 Canadians online from January 7 to 15. It comes amid heightened attention to vaccination rates after Canada lost its measles elimination status in 2025. Bruce MacLellan, chair of Proof Strategies, described vaccine hesitancy as a complex public health issue that defies simple categorization.

Among respondents, 24 percent reported turning down a recommended vaccine for themselves. Cost was a factor for some shots not covered by provincial health plans, but fear of negative outcomes topped the list. Millennial women and Generation Z men showed the highest refusal rates at 30 percent, followed by 20 percent among Generation Z women. Women overall were more likely than men to decline, as were those with a high school education or less compared to university graduates.

Hesitancy dropped for children's vaccines, with 16 percent of parents saying they refused a recommendation. Refusal...