Opposition to mandatory childhood vaccination in Canada has risen 14 percent since the COVID-19 pandemic, up from 24 percent in 2019 to 38 percent today, a new survey has found.

Simultaneously, support for mandatory childhood vaccination in schools in Canada has dropped 15 points from 70 percent in 2019 to 55 percent in 2024, according to new data from the Angus Reid Institute. Currently, both Ontario and New Brunswick require certain immunizations to attend school.

A poll of Canadian parents with children under 18 found that one-in-six described themselves as “really against” vaccinating their kids, a four-fold increase from the pre-pandemic years, the Angus Reid data shows. While 17 percent of parents are dead-set against vaccinations, 71 percent of Canadians are worried the anti-vaccination movement will lead to unnecessary illness and suffering.

“In 2024, views of vaccinations vary across the country, from those who are completely confident in their efficacy, to those who feel they should not be given at all,” Angus Reid said in a post announcing the survey results.