WHO ARE THE ANTI-VAXXERS?

March 9th, 2015. Mainstreet Technologies released new research today profiling 1,013 Canadian
parents with unvaccinated children (Anti-Vaxxers).
"We found in earlier research a surprising amount of mistrust in vaccines, said Quito Maggi,
President of Mainstreet Technologies. "We wanted to see specifically why parents with children
have made the decision to not vaccinate."
We found that the major reason, by far, parents are choosing not to vaccinate their children is
health concerns. Education and income really arent a factor when you take a close look at the
make-up of Anti-Vaxxers. Despite the fact that measles has regularly been in the news over the
past two months, 80% of respondents still say they are not at all likely to vaccinate their
children. This is a continuing problem for those who cannot be vaccinated and depend on herd
immunity for coverage concluded Maggi.
Anti Vaxxers;
- 39% come from households with over $100,000 in income
- 38% hold a University degree & 66% have completed post-secondary education
- 65% cite Health Reasons for not vaccinating, 19% religious reasons
-30For more information or further comment:
David Valentin,(613) 698-5524 - david@mainstreettechnologies.ca
Available for interview from Toronto:
Quito Maggi, quito@mainstreettechnologies.ca
Methodology
1,013 Canadians were interviewed by Interactive Voice Recording who indicated they are the
parent or guardian of a child from the ages of 1-14; and, who indicated that their child was not
vaccinated against Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR). Margin of error: +/- 3.08, 19/20.
Interviews were conducted from February 22nd to February 28th, 2015.
About Mainstreet Technologies
Mainstreet Technologies is an emerging national public research firm. With 20 years of political
experience at all three levels of government, President and CEO Quito Maggi is a respected
commentator on Canadian public affairs.
Differentiated by its large sample sizes, Mainstreet has provided accurate snapshots of public
opinion, having predicted a majority PC government in Alberta, a majority Liberal government in
British Columbia, and a majority Liberal government in Ontario. Most recently, Mainstreet was
the most accurate pollster Novembers Toronto mayoral election and Februarys by-election in
Sudbury.

What best describes the reason your child has not been vaccinated?

RELIGIOUS REASONS
PHILOSOPHICAL REASONS
HEALTH CONCERNS
SOMETHING ELSE
NOT SURE

BREAKDOWNS
RELIGIOUS REASONS
PHILOSOPHICAL REASONS
HEALTH CONCERNS
SOMETHING ELSE
DONT KNOW
SAMPLE

18-34 35-49 50-64

21%
17%
19%
7%
9%
8%
66% 64% 65%
6%
8%
7%
1%
2%
1%
456
366
174

RELIGIOUS REASONS
PHILOSOPHICAL REASONS
HEALTH CONCERNS
SOMETHING ELSE
DONT KNOW
SAMPLE

BC
24%
7%
63%
4%
2%
156

AB
23%
5%
66%
5%
1%
115

Prairies
18%
8%
67%
4%
2%
92

65+
24%
12%
59%
6%
1%
17

19%
8%
65%
7%
2%

Male
20%
8%
63%
7%
2%
450

Female
18%
7%
67%
7%
1%
563

ON QC Atlantic
18% 16%
18%
9% 8%
7%
63% 67%
65%
9% 7%
7%
1%
2%
2%
303 265
82

There has recently been an outbreak of Measles both in Canada and the United
States. Thinking about this are you likely to now vaccinate your child?

NOT AT ALL LIKELY

SLIGHTLY LIKELY
MODERATELY LIKELY
VERY LIKELY
COMPLETELY LIKELY

BREAKDOWNS
NOT AT ALL LIKELY
SLIGHTLY LIKELY
MODERATELY LIKELY
VERY LIKELY
COMPLETELY LIKELY
SAMPLE

18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

80% 79% 76% 76%
5%
4%
7%
4%
6%
7%
6%
6%
4%
4%
5% 12%
5%
6%
6%
6%
456
366
174
17

NOT AT ALL LIKELY

SLIGHTLY LIKELY
MODERATELY LIKELY
VERY LIKELY
COMPLETELY LIKELY
SAMPLE

BC
76%
9%
4%
3%
7%
156

AB
82%
6%
6%
3%
3%
115

Prairies
83%
5%
7%
2%
3%
92

79%
5%
6%
4%
6%

Male
78%
6%
8%
3%
5%
450

Female
80%
4%
5%
5%
6%
563

ON QC Atlantic
81% 79%
71%
2% 5%
9%
7% 6%
9%
5% 3%
9%
5% 8%
4%
303 265
82

BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME
What best describes the reason your child has not been vaccinated?
RELIGIOUS REASONS
PHILOSOPHICAL REASONS
HEALTH CONCERNS
SOMETHING ELSE
DONT KNOW
SAMPLE
BREAKDOWN

Under $50K
18%
7%
67%
8%
2%
205
20%

$50K - $100K Over $100K

19%
18%
8%
8%
64%
67%
5%
8%
3%
1%
413
395
41%
39%

There has recently been an outbreak of Measles both in Canada and the United
States. Thinking about this are you likely to now vaccinate your child?
NOT AT ALL LIKELY
SLIGHTLY LIKELY
MODERATELY LIKELY
VERY LIKELY
COMPLETELY LIKELY
SAMPLE

Under $50K
80%
6%
6%
4%
4%
205

$50K - $100K Over $100K

77%
81%
3%
6%
7%
6%
4%
4%
6%
6%
413
395

EDUCATION
HS = HIGH SCHOOL OR EQUIVALENT; TD = TRADE CERTIFICATE; CD = COLLEGE DIPLOMA;
BA = UNIVERSITY DEGREE; BA+ UNIVERSITY CERTIFICATE ABOVE BACHELOR LEVEL;
SE = SOMETHING ELSE

What best describes the reason your child has not been vaccinated?
RELIGIOUS REASONS
PHILOSOPHICAL REASONS
HEALTH CONCERNS
SOMETHING ELSE
DONT KNOW
SAMPLE
BREAKDOWN

HS
18%
8%
67%
5%
2%
233
23%

TC
16%
4%
68%
10%
2%
122
12%

CD
BA
21% 19%
10% 6%
58% 68%
7%
7%
0%
3%
154 282
15% 28%

BA+ SE
18% 23%
11% 8%
64% 60%
6% 7%
1%
2%
110 112
11% 11%

There has recently been an outbreak of Measles both in Canada and the United
States. Thinking about this are you likely to now vaccinate your child?

NOT AT ALL LIKELY

SLIGHTLY LIKELY
MODERATELY LIKELY
VERY LIKELY
COMPLETELY LIKELY
SAMPLE

HS
79%
6%
5%
5%
4%
233

TC CD
73% 81%
7% 5%
8% 5%
5% 2%
7% 8%
122 154

BA
81%
3%
6%
3%
7%
282

BA+ SE
82% 77%
3% 5%
9% 7%
3% 7%
4% 4%
110 112