TOP FINDINGS

With the Omicron variant of COVID-19 becoming an increasing concern, around 4 in 5 Ontario residents say they are likely to get a third vaccine dose to protect themselves against it.

Those who are likely to receive a third vaccine dose are more likely to be older (65+: TOP2: 93%), earn more than $100K (TOP2: 85%) and be concerned with the Omicron variant (TOP2: 85%).

In the contrary, those who say they are not likely to get it tend to be younger (18-24: BTM2: 15%; 25-34: BTM2: 13%) and not be concerned with the Omicron variant (BTM2: 34%).

When it comes to plans for this holiday season, residents say they are limiting the people they celebrate with. 

Around 5 in 10 (51%) will be celebrating with only their immediate household. 4 in 10 (42%) will be celebrating with their household and members of their extended family, while 1 in 10 (7%) will be celebrating without any restrictions. 

Also, those who are concerned with the Omicron variant are most likely to gather with only their immediate household (TOP2: 81%).

When thinking about holiday activities, people are most comfortable when it comes to gathering with only their immediate household (TOP2: 86%) and with vaccinated people outside their household (TOP2: 70%).

Around 1 in 3 have plans for international travel in the next year, and they are most commonly planning a trip between 6 to 12 months from now.

Those who are planning to travel are more likely to be 25-34 years old (47%), have finished post-graduate studies (32%), earn more than $100K (48%) and be vaccinated (37%).

Residents who are not born in Canada are also more likely to travel internationally (52%). This could possibly be because they haven’t had the chance to travel back to their home country in the past two years and would like to do so when the situation gets better. 

Among those who have plans for travel next year, only 3 in 5 (56%) are currently comfortable with international travel, which could explain they are more likely to have their trip later in the year. 

As of November 23rd, children aged 5-11 have become eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. Since then, 2 in 5 parents have had their children vaccinated, while 2 in 5 are still planning to and 1 in 5 don’t plan to at all. 

Parents who don’t intend to get their children vaccinated are most concerned about the potential side effects on their children (TOP2: 82%).

Meanwhile, parents who intend to get their children vaccinated will do so as soon as an appointment is available (44%) and will do it after school as it is most convenient for them (48%).

METHODOLOGY

The Forum Poll™, conducted by Forum Research, was based on a computer-assisted web survey of 1,001 residents in Ontario aged 18 years and above, recruited from the Forum Poll Panel. 

The poll was conducted on December 14th, 2021. The average length of the survey was 4 minutes. 

The Forum Poll Panel is a randomly recruited panel of Canadians. Its total sample results are accurate 19 times out of 20 (+/- 3 percentage points), while its subsample results are considered less accurate. 

Where appropriate, the data has been statistically weighted by age, region, and other variables to ensure that the sample reflects the actual population according to the latest Census data.

MEDIA INQUIRIES

For media inquiries, please contact:
William Schatten
Vice President of Research & Analytics
wschatten@forumresearch.com
416.960.1310