Mandatory Covid-19 Vaccinations and the Charter

A Leger poll taken near the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic found that 60 percent of Canadians thought that any future vaccine should be mandatory for all citizens.1 A more recent Nanos poll completed on 2 August 2021 showed that this high level of support did not wane as 53 percent of Canadians fully supported mandatory vaccinations, while a further 21 percent “somewhat support” such a policy.2 Although neither the federal nor provincial governments have implemented a generally applicable mandatory vaccination policy, other countries are acting upon similar support. Austria’s Chancellor recently announced that vaccines will be mandatory as of 1 February 2022, making Austria the first of several European countries to adopt a mandatory vaccination policy.3 1 See “Covid-19 Tracking Survey Results” (27 April 2020) at 13, online (pdf): Leger [perma.cc/Q9GB-759G]. 2 See Sarah Turnbull, “Majority of Canadians support mandatory vaccinations: Nanos survey”, CTV News (5 August 2021), online: [perma.cc/EFA9-69S6]. 3 See Philip Olterman, “Austria plans compulsory Covid vaccination for all”. The Guardian (19 November 2021), online: [perma.cc/5JYH-LMHT]. Subsequently, Greece has required all people over the age of 60 to receive a vaccine, while Italy has voted in favour of making vaccinations mandatory for those over 50. For a more detailed review of the policies in place in Europe, see Lauren Chadwick, “Which countries in Europe will follow Austria and make COVID vaccines mandatory”, Euro News (1 February 2022), online: [perma.cc/RNQ9-NPA6].