Survey says most Australians will get COVID vaccine
A survey conducted by home healthcare provider The CareSide reveals that an overwhelming majority of Australians plan to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
The survey polled a sample of 1122 Australians, with respondents categorised by age: 74% were 18–39 years old, 20% were 40–64 years old and 6% were 65 or older. Overall, 69% of respondents said they anticipate receiving a vaccine once one is approved and available.
The 65+ group was the most interested in vaccine protection, with more than three out of four individuals over the age 65 planning to get vaccinated. Surprisingly, only 57% of those aged between 40 and 64 years plan to receive the vaccine when it is available. Among young adults aged 18 to 39 years, 71% said they plan to get the vaccine.
The survey asked how respondents feel about the Australian Government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. A significant majority (79%) said they feel the government has done a good job. By comparison, 21% said they did not feel the government has managed the pandemic well. This response was generally consistent across age groups.
The issue of herd immunity
Although it’s encouraging that most people in Australia are willing to get vaccinated against COVID-19, the findings from the report may not be good news for the long-term effort to contain the pandemic. We don’t know how much of the population will need to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. New, more infectious variants of the virus have been identified in Australia, which pose a threat to continued containment of disease spread.
In addition, we don’t know the extent to which vaccines will prevent transmission. The report says that, depending on how effective vaccines are at preventing transmission, herd immunity in Australia could require a vaccine rate of 80–90% or higher.
As a home care provider to seniors, The CareSide has been intimately involved in caring for some of Australia’s most vulnerable people throughout the pandemic. The provider conducted this survey to learn more about the obstacles the country faces during the rollout of the vaccines to better serve its clients and support local communities.
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