Unvaxxed loved ones? How to handle tense family gatherings over the holidays

With the holiday season just around the corner and vaccinations a source of tension and conflict among some family members, CTVNews.ca looks at some best practices to keep the peace -- and everyone safe.

But with family transmissions a key source of infections and vaccinations a source of tension among some relatives, how do we navigate family gatherings during the holidays?

Over the past year, conflicts over masking and vaccination have created an enormous divide -- friendships have been broken and family members estranged. But if cutting off loved ones is not something you want to do especially during the holiday season, what are some best practices to keep the peace -- and everyone safe at the same time?

“It's a personal decision as far as an evaluation of risk … but I think this year, trying to make the gathering small or mainly vaccinate with people would be the best idea,” says Dr. Anna Banerji, an associate professor with the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

You may have to make the hard choice this year to require vaccinations, she says.