Pub for jab: Millions of Aussies would get vaccinated to get back to the pub
NSW is officially on the road to freedom, and with "freedom day" on the horizon for many other states, millions of Australians would get vaccinated to have access to the things they love, according to new research by Finder.
A September 2021 nationally representative survey of 1,003 respondents found 27% – equivalent to 5.2 million Australians – would be more inclined to get the COVID-19 vaccine if it meant they could have access to certain freedoms again.
The survey revealed almost 2 in 5 (39%) Aussies are already vaccinated, while 17% said they plan to get the vaccine regardless.
A concerning 16% said despite not having access to certain leisures, they would still be hesitant to get the jab.
Gen Z have the lowest vaccination rate (18%) and highest hesitancy rate (23%), but they are also the most likely to get the vaccine if they were restricted from certain freedoms.
Graham Cooke, head of consumer research at Finder, said it was encouraging to see the nation make progress towards higher vaccination rates.
"It's unfortunate that a small group of Australians are still hesitant to get the jab. However, with the 'no-jab-no-pub' policy being implemented until at least 1 December for NSW, we'll be able to protect more Aussies."
The freedoms or benefits that respondents thought might encourage the unvaccinated to get jabbed were access to hospitality (54%), air travel (51%), entertainment (50%), gyms (45%) or a cash incentive (34%).
Despite this, almost 1 in 5 (18%) Australians say nothing would incentivise vaccine-hesitant individuals to get the vaccine.
As of September, men (45%) had a higher vaccination rate compared to women (34%), and were also much less hesitant to get the jab (12% and 21% respectively).
"It's interesting to see that women are more hesitant to get the jab than men at this stage – this is probably due to false information circulated by anti-vaccine groups about fertility.
"Hopefully this disparity disappears in the coming months."
Cooke encourages individuals to listen to the health authorities, speak to their medical professionals and make the right informed decision.
South Australia (21%) and Queensland (20%) are the most vaccine-hesitant states of the nation, compared to Victoria (15%) and New South Wales (14%).
| If Australia enforced that only COVID-19 vaccinated individuals could have access to entertainment, would you be more inclined to get the COVID-19 vaccine? | |
|---|---|
| No, I'm already vaccinated | 39% |
| Yes | 27% |
| No, I'm hesitant about the vaccine | 16% |
| No, I plan to get the vaccine anyway | 17% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,003 respondents, September 2021 |
| Which of the following do you think would most effectively encourage vaccine-hesitant Australians to get the COVID-19 vaccine? | |
|---|---|
| Only permitting access to cafes, pubs, restaurants or clubs to vaccinated individuals | 54% |
| Only permitting vaccinated individuals to travel via airplane | 51% |
| Only permitting access to entertainment (e.g. movies, live performances) to vaccinated individuals | 50% |
| Only permitting access to gyms for vaccinated individuals | 45% |
| A cash incentive | 34% |
| Nothing | 18% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,003 respondents, September 2021 |