ABOUT two in three Australians want to get the COVID-19 vaccine, however 66 percent said they are worried about side effects and 37 percent said they do not believe or don’t trust the vaccine.
The results are from the latest Taking the Pulse of the Nation, conducted by economic and social policy research institution, The Melbourne Institute.
The fortnightly survey tracks changes in the economic and social wellbeing of Australians. The latest survey was conducted from February 1 to 6.
Remarkably, of the two in three Australians who want to get the vaccine, only 65 percent are willing to wait until people with a higher risk of contracting the virus or becoming seriously ill get vaccinated first.
Professor Anthony Scott, Professorial Fellow at the Melbourne Institute, said the successful roll-out of the vaccine would require better awareness around the effectiveness of the vaccine in controlling the deadly effects of the pandemic.
“We know that the efficacy of the vaccine relies on herd immunity. Our results suggest that more public education around how and why the vaccine works might help allay concerns and improve participation,” Professor Scott said.
