Many in North America will get a COVID-19 vaccine should one be developed, according to a new poll.
The latest Leger survey shows that 63 per cent of Canadians interviewed would get a vaccine if one is approved by Health Canada and is available to the public free of charge. Also, 47 per cent of Americans surveyed said they would get one if the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the go-ahead.
Regarding the question of who should get the vaccine first, 65 per cent of Canadians and 45 per cent of Americans think it should first go to certain high-risk or vulnerable groups, such as senior citizens and health care workers.
Respondents on both sides of the border were critical of the way U.S. President Donald Trump has handled the pandemic. Forty-four per cent of Americans interviewed said that Trump's response to the coronavirus was "very reckless and endangered others," while 32 per cent praised the president's leadership in the pandemic. Canadians had a stronger view on the subject, with 72 per cent of those surveyed critical of Trump's handling of the pandemic, and only nine per cent favouring Trump's leadership.
Also, when interviewees were asked to choose one or the other, 63 per cent of Americans and 72 per cent of Canadians believed it was more important to stop the spread of COVID-19 than prevent an economic downturn.
This online survey was conducted from October 9 through 11, with 1,539 Canadian and 1,000 American adults participating.