Most Canadians Still Trust Vaccines — But Rising Hesitancy Highlights the Need for Trusted Medical Advice
A new national poll offers both reassurance and a warning for Canada’s healthcare system. While most Canadians continue to trust vaccines, confidence has declined over the past five years — underscoring the growing importance of credible, face-to-face medical guidance from qualified healthcare professionals.
What the Poll Found
According to a Leger Healthcare survey conducted in November 2025, 74% of Canadian adults report being confident in the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, with 42% saying they are “very confident” and 32% “somewhat confident.”
However, one in four Canadians say they are less confident than they were five years ago. The decline is most pronounced among younger adults, particularly those aged 18 to 34, while adults over 65 remain the most confident and supportive of immunization.
The vaccines generating the greatest hesitation include:
- COVID-19 vaccines
- Seasonal influenza vaccines
These findings arrive at a critical moment, as public health officials warn of a sharp rise in influenza cases and pediatric hospitalizations across Canada.
Why Vaccine Confidence Is Eroding
Healthcare providers participating in the survey identified the leading drivers of vaccine hesitancy as:
- Concerns about safety (61%)
- Misinformation from social media influencers (53%)
- Mistrust in institutions (48%)
From the public’s perspective, willingness to be vaccinated is strongly influenced by:
- Perceived effectiveness in preventing severe illness (63%)
- Severity of disease or risk of death (60%)
- Vaccine safety (54%)
- Likelihood of exposure (54%)
In short, people are not rejecting science — they are struggling to navigate fragmented and conflicting information.
The Trust Gap: Access to Care Matters
One of the most striking findings from the poll is that family doctors and nurse practitioners remain the most trusted sources of vaccine information. Government and public health websites rank second.
Yet nearly six million Canadians currently lack a family doctor, a reality that experts say directly contributes to declining vaccine confidence.
As Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman, President of the Ontario Medical Association, noted, vaccine conversations require time, trust, and the ability to address individual concerns — something that is difficult without consistent access to primary care.
This trust gap becomes especially concerning when vaccine-hesitant individuals turn instead to social media, podcasters, or foreign government websites for guidance.
Why This Matters for Travel Health
For travellers, vaccine confidence is not theoretical — it has real-world consequences. International travel often involves exposure to diseases that are rare in Canada but common elsewhere, including measles, hepatitis, typhoid, and yellow fever.
At Destinations Travel Clinic, we see firsthand how misinformation can delay or prevent travellers from receiving essential vaccines before departure. That is why our model is intentionally different.
How Destinations Travel Clinic Builds Vaccine Confidence
DTC primarily employs physicians and nurses with specialized training in travel and tropical medicine, supported by pharmacists trained in travel health. This physician- and nurse-led model allows us to:
- Provide clear, evidence-based explanations of vaccine risks and benefits
- Address individual medical histories and concerns
- Correct misinformation in a respectful, non-judgmental setting
- Align vaccine recommendations with real-world travel risks
- Build trust through professional accountability and continuity of care
Vaccines are not retail products — they are medical interventions. Confidence grows when people feel heard, informed, and guided by clinicians with expertise and responsibility.
The Bottom Line
The majority of Canadians still believe in vaccines — and that matters. But rising hesitancy signals a need to strengthen trusted medical conversations, not silence them.
Whether at home or abroad, informed decisions about vaccines are best made with qualified healthcare professionals, not algorithms or influencers.
At Destinations Travel Clinic, our role is simple: to protect travellers through science, expertise, and trust.
Stay Connected with Destinations Travel and Immunization Clinic!
If you found this article helpful, don’t forget to like, share, and Follow to stay up to date on our latest travel health tips, updates, and wellness advice.
And follow us on social media
Disclaimer: The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only and is not to be used or relied upon for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information does not substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment. Please do not initiate, modify, or discontinue any treatment, medication, or supplement solely based on this information. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider first. Full Disclaimer.
