A recent survey conducted by the Angus Reid Institute reveals that a strong majority of Canadians oppose charging individuals for the COVID-19 vaccine. The research shows that about 69 per cent of respondents stand against requiring payment for the vaccination, while approximately 24 per cent support the idea.

The issue has gained prominence as two provinces — Alberta and Quebec — move to implement user-pay models for COVID-19 vaccines for people not deemed at high risk. These jurisdictions mark a shift away from Canada’s longstanding practice of universal free vaccination.

It should be noted that between 2022 and 2024, Canada recorded at least $2.2 billion in costs tied to expired and unused COVID-19 vaccines, according to figures from the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Auditor General’s office. The losses stemmed from an early oversupply of doses that outpaced actual demand as vaccination rates slowed and public uptake declined.

A December 2022 report from the Auditor General projected about $1 billion in expired vaccines by the end of that year, a figure later confirmed in federal public accounts. Millions more doses were discarded in 2023, with the National Post reporting that 14.4 million expired from federal inventory, following 12 million the year before. In 2024, public accounts tabled in the House of Commons showed a further $1.2 billion write-down for expired vaccines and therapeutics.

Federal auditors pointed to several causes behind the waste. Advance purchase agreements led Canada to secure far more doses than needed, a precautionary move taken when vaccine availability was uncertain. Attempts to donate surplus doses abroad were largely unsuccessful, as global demand waned and logistical challenges limited distribution. The Auditor General also found weaknesses in coordination and data-sharing between Ottawa and the provinces, making it difficult to match supply with regional vaccination needs.

While nationwide opposition is overwhelming, regional and political contrasts emerge. In Alberta around 36 per cent of the population indicates support for vaccine charges, while 57 per cent oppose them. Within the political landscape, past supporters of the Conservative Party of Canada are divided: nearly half (47 per cent) favour the charge, while 44 per cent are opposed. In contrast, those who previously voted for the Liberal Party of Canada report roughly 89 per cent opposition to paying for vaccination.

One driving factor behind the divide is confidence in vaccine effectiveness. Three-quarters of Canadians believe COVID-19 and influenza vaccines reduce the chance of getting sick, yet only about 52 per cent of former Conservative voters share that belief. Among past Liberal voters the level rises to about 94 per cent.

Concern about contracting the virus has also dropped significantly. The polling finds only 29 per cent of Canadians describe themselves as very or moderately worried about catching COVID-19 — a figure comparable to the period before the pandemic’s first wave.

As provinces adjust their vaccine policies, findings like these from the Angus Reid Institute offer insight into where public sentiment stands. The resistance to charging for the vaccine reflects broad consensus across much of the country, even as political and regional lines delineate pockets of support for a different approach.

See Angus Reid Poll