Abstract
Background: High vaccine uptake requires strong public support, acceptance, and willingness. Methods: A longitudinal cohort study gathered survey data every four weeks between 1 October 2020 and 9 November 2021 in Victoria, Australia. Data were analysed for 686 participants aged 18 years and older. Results: Vaccine intention in our cohort increased from 60% in October 2020 to 99% in November 2021. Vaccine intention increased in all demographics, but longitudinal trends in vaccine intention differed by age, employment as a healthcare worker, presence of children in the household, and highest qualification attained. Acceptance of vaccine mandates increased from 50% in October 2020 to 71% in November 2021. Acceptance of vaccine mandates increased in all age groups except 18–25 years; acceptance also varied by gender and highest qualification attained. The main reasons for not intending to be vaccinated included safety concerns, including blood clots, and vaccine efficacy. Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccination campaigns should be informed by understanding of the sociodemographic drivers of vaccine acceptance to enable socially and culturally relevant guidance and ensure equitable vaccine coverage. Vaccination policies should be applied judiciously to avoid polarisation.
Highlights
IntroductionIn Australia, attitudes to COVID-19 vaccination have fluctuated during the pandemic
Once vaccine supply is secured and the logistics of distribution ensure adequate access, vaccine uptake depends upon strong public support, acceptance, and willingness to be vaccinated [1].In Australia, attitudes to COVID-19 vaccination have fluctuated during the pandemic
A key result from this study is the increase in vaccine intention in Victoria, Australia, since October 2020, despite fluctuation and variation across key demographics
Summary
In Australia, attitudes to COVID-19 vaccination have fluctuated during the pandemic. Vaccine intention reached 84% in April 2020 [2], before declining to 65% in May 2020 and 56% in November 2020 [3]. More recent surveys indicated an increase in vaccine intention to 73% in June 2021 [4], with vaccine hesitancy, including those unwilling and refusing to be vaccinated, at 11.5% in November 2021 [5]. In response to extended outbreaks of the COVID-19 Delta variant in New South Wales and Victoria in mid-2021, policy changes facilitated vaccine uptake, which is central to long-term management of COVID-19 [6]. As of 9 November 2021, 90% of adults aged 16 years and over nationally and 92% in Victoria had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose
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