Yes, we’d take a COVID vaccine

Aussies would have jab

NO COUNTRY SHOULD BE LEFT BEHIND IN THE ROLLOUT OF A VACCINE ONCE IT HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY TESTED

AND RELEASED

ALMOST eight out of 10 Australians say they will use a new COVID-19 vaccine if it is available and properly tested, a new survey has found.

And, despite the anti-vaxxer movement, the majority of respondents also believe vaccines to be effective in preventing infectious diseases.

While the response is encouraging, the survey shows the Federal Government still has its work cut out in achieving its goal of herd immunity via 95 per cent immunisation.

Conducted for non-profit ChildFund Australia, the Essential Qualtrics omnibus poll asked 1076 participants between September 3-6 for their views on vaccination, including whether the government should help neighbouring countries to roll out immunisation programs.

The survey found 78 per cent of people agreed they would have a COVID vaccine if it was “properly tested and released”.

Nine per cent disagreed, with the remaining 13 per cent being indifferent.

Older Australians were more likely to agree, with those aged 55 and over also the largest group to believe in the effectiveness of vaccines.

As for helping other countries, 76 per cent of respondents said the government

MARGARET SHEEHAN

should give our neighbours a hand with vaccination.

ChildFund Australia CEO Margaret Sheehan said the results showed most Australians believed in the efficacy of vaccines and felt the government had a responsibility to help stop the spread of COVID in our region.

“In Australia, we have eradicated infectious diseases such as polio, and many children have been vaccinated against other life-threatening illnesses such as measles,” she said.

“Unfortunately, in countries like Papua New Guinea, low rates of vaccination due to overstretched and under-resourced health systems means the lives of children are still at risk to preventable disease.

“The Australian government has a critical role to play in stopping the spread of disease across our region. This is particularly critical in tackling COVID-19. No country should be left behind in the rollout of a vaccine once it has been thoroughly tested and released.”