COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance: Correlates in a nationally representative longitudinal survey of the Australian population

Abstract

BackgroundHigh levels of vaccination coverage in populations will be required even with vaccines that have high levels of effectiveness to prevent and stop outbreaks of coronavirus. The World Health Organisation has suggested that governments take a proactive response to vaccine hesitancy ‘hotspots’ based on social and behavioural insights.MethodsRepresentative longitudinal online survey of over 3000 adults from Australia that examines the demographic, attitudinal, political and social attitudes and COVID-19 health behavior correlates of vaccine hesitance and resistance to a COVID-19 vaccine.ResultsOverall, 59% would definitely get the vaccine, 29% had low levels of hesitancy, 7% had high levels of hesitancy and 6% were resistant. Females, those living in disadvantaged areas, those who reported that risks of COVID-19 was overstated, those who had more populist views and higher levels of religiosity were more likely to be hesitant or resistant while those who had higher levels of household income, those who had higher levels of social distancing, who downloaded the COVID-Safe App, who had more confidence in their state or territory government or confidence in their hospitals, or were more supportive of migration were more likely to intend to get vaccinated.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that vaccine hesitancy, which accounts for a significant proportion of the population can be addressed by public health messaging but for a significant minority of the population with strongly held beliefs, alternative policy measures may well be needed to achieve sufficient vaccination coverage to end the pandemic.

Change in vaccine willingness in Australia: August 2020 to January 2021

“…The analysis in the previous section is of the demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic factors associated with vaccine willingness and confidence in January 2021. Some, but not all of the above associations are similar to those found in previous waves of ANUpoll (Edwards et al 2020) and are therefore picking up stable characteristics associated with vaccine willingness (albeit with different magnitudes).…”

“…We find a significant increase in vaccine hesitancy. In August 2020, 5.5 per cent of adult Australians said that they would definitely not get the vaccine, 7.2 per cent said that they would probably not get the vaccine, 28.7 per cent said that they would probably get the vaccine and 58.5 per cent said that they would definitely get the vaccine (Edwards et al 2020).…”

COVID-19 vaccination intent and willingness to pay in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

“…This study also found that religious belief is an essential predictor for vaccine acceptance. A longitudinal survey in Australia found that higher religiosity levels were more likely to be hesitant (Edwards et al 2020). Our study also suggests that people previously infected with the COVID-19 infection are almost three times more likely to accept the COVID-19 vaccine than the uninfected population.…”

Vaccinating Australia: How long will it take?

“…The projections assume that those who are hesitant will never receive the vaccine. The specified hesitancy rates are based on the survey data reported by Edwards et al ., 4 and are only applied to general population groups. Border staff, healthcare and aged care workers, aged care residents and adults with a medical condition were assumed to have negligible vaccine hesitancy.…”

“…The population-weighted responses were 5.5% definitely not , 7.2% probably not , 28.7% probably yes and 58.5% definitely yes . 4…”