Canadians Divided Over Mandatory COVID 19 Vaccines, Priority Inoculations

Majority of Canadians say vaccine should be voluntary as public opinion shifts

In this handout photo released by the University of Oxford a volunteer participates in a COVID-19 vaccine trial in Oxford, England, on July 7, 2020. The Canadian Press/AP-University of Oxford via AP

OTTAWA—Canadians appear to be turning against mandatory COVID-19 inoculations whenever a vaccine becomes available, with a new poll suggesting the number of people opposed to the idea is growing.

The poll by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies is the latest to take the public’s temperature during the COVID-19 pandemic, and comes as governments and scientists around the world are scrambling to find a vaccine.