Image Credit: Angus Reid Institute
September 05, 2021 - 9:32 AM
As COVID-19 cases rise across Canada, new survey data shows most parents of school-aged children are comfortable with their kids returning to the classroom but they want teachers and staff to be vaccinated.
Three-quarters of parents with a child aged 12 to 17, and two-thirds of parents with a child aged five to 11, say they are comfortable putting their kids back in classrooms, according to data from non-profit Angus Reid Institute.
Still, parents want additional safeguards. Three-quarters (74%) of parents with older kids, and four-in-five (81%) parents with kids aged five to 11 (who are still ineligible for the vaccine), believe vaccines should be mandatory for school staff including teachers, according to the non-profit.
Image Credit: Angus Reid Institute
A majority of both groups of parents are worried about their children getting sick from COVID-19. Those with children ineligible for the vaccine are the most worried with one-third (34%) of parents with a child aged five to 11 saying they are “very concerned” their children might get sick from the virus, according to the non-profit.
Even parents whose child is vaccinated worry about the virus. Three in five parents with a vaccinated child aged 12 to 17 say they are still worried about their children getting sick from COVID-19.
Despite all the concern, in-school learning is vastly preferred. Nine-in-ten (88%) of both groups of parents prefer their children learn in-person rather than online.
A majority of the Canadian parents surveyed would support a mask mandate for school staff as well.
The Angus Reid Institute conducted an online survey from Aug. 24-30, among a representative randomized sample of 804 Canadian parents who are members of Angus Reid Forum. The non-profit also conducted an online survey from Aug. 29-30, among a representative sample of 122 Canadian parents who are members of Angus Reid Forum.
For more information on the data collected, visit the Angus Reid website.
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