Vast majority of Â鶹´«Ã½AVs want COVID-19 boosters

09 Dec 2021

More than seven-in-10 vaccinated Â鶹´«Ã½AVs say they will definitely get a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot when it is recommended to them, from The Â鶹´«Ã½AV National University (ANU) shows.

The survey of more than 3,400 people, the largest longitudinal study on the pandemic in Australia, shows 71.9 per cent of adults will get a booster.

Study co-author Professor Nicholas Biddle said despite the strong showing of support for boosters, some Â鶹´«Ã½AVs remained hesitant about geting an extra COVID-19 vaccine shot.

"Not all Â鶹´«Ã½AVs have the same willingness to receive a booster vaccine," Professor Biddle said.

"In our analysis we found males, younger Â鶹´«Ã½AVs, those who live outside of advantaged areas, those who have not completed Year 12, those who speak a language other than English, and those who have had their first dose vaccination relatively recently are all less willing to receive their 'third dose' of the COVID-19 vaccine.

"Evidence-based targeted interventions for these groups may be necessary to ensure that immunity disparities do not emerge in 2022 and beyond."

When respondents were asked about their reasons for being hesitant about a COVID-19 booster, the most common response was thinking that other people would need a COVID-19 vaccine more than they will.

"This reinforces the need to boost supply of COVID-19 vaccines to the region, not only because many countries in the Asia Pacific have very low vaccination rates, but also because it will reassure Â鶹´«Ã½AVs that they can get a booster without putting others at risk," Professor Biddle said.

Professor Biddle said the survey also showed that despite recent incredible success, there is still variation in vaccine uptake and willingness across Australia.

"In August 2020 and in particular January 2021, we found high levels of vaccine hesitancy among Â鶹´«Ã½AVs, with more than two-in-five adults saying they wouldn't or were unlikely to get vaccinated.

"Since then Australia has become one of the most vaccinated countries in the world. 

"However, our study shows that vaccine rates are low in the states and territories that did not experience significant lockdowns during the third wave of COVID-19 infections in Australia, namely Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

"We also found that education and age were two other factors driving vaccine uptake - with older Â鶹´«Ã½AVs and those with higher levels of education more likely to be vaccinated."

The study forms part of the led by the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods. Data was collected by the Social Research Centre and is available via the .

 Read the full study .  

For Journalists

  • MEDIA TEAM CONTACT
      James Giggacher
      +61 2 6125 7979