Australians reveal what would motivate them to get the Covid jab

Vaccine wary Australians have revealed what would persuade them to get the COVID vaccine — and it’s more than just cash.

Exclusive: Unrestricted travel and quarantine waivers are the incentives most likely to persuade hesitant Australians to get the Covid-19 jab.

One in four people with vaccine jitters would be likely to get it if they were allowed to travel without restrictions, a new study has found.

A further one in five would succumb if it exempted them from quarantine.

And a sweetener for those already intending on having the injection would be a $50 cash voucher or discount on their health insurance.

The online survey of 2006 people by the Growth Intelligence Centre showed nervous Australians wanted a reason to be inoculated — and other big drawcards were free flights and paid time off work.

The top emotional incentive for those hesitant about the shot was the idea that getting vaccinated would prevent them giving Covid to family or friends.

Freebies will motivate people top get their Covid jab, a survey has found. Picture: Jason Edwards

American companies and governments have been offering vaccine incentives such as free doughnuts and beer, tickets in a $1 million lottery and $100 cash bonuses.

Australia’s national carrier Qantas on Thursday announced it was “considering” offering rewards such as free frequent flyer points, to people who get both shots of either Pfizer or AstraZeneca.

Former health department chief turned government adviser Jane Halton says Australia needs a concerted public health effort and advertising to get the message through to people about vaccination.

“We should be thinking very creatively and if what they’re doing in the US ends up working, let’s watch and see, we should think about it as well,” she said.

Another former health department and Grattan Institute researcher chief professor Stephen Duckett is not sure we need incentives yet.

“When I give plasma every couple of weeks at the Red Cross and I get free sausage rolls and meat pies and milkshakes. So we might need to do that. That could be part of the picture,” he said.

Australian Medical Association President Dr Omar Khorshid said “the biggest incentive is that vaccination will help protect you, your family, friends, and the community from this terrible virus.

“And as more people get vaccinated, it will allow us to open up our country. The government should also explore options for fully vaccinated Australians to travel more freely across domestic travel borders.”

Kosta Dimitrakis 44, from Brighton shows his vaccination card after getting his Covid jab. Picture: David Caird

The survey found among those who described themselves as “likely” to get the vaccine, a free return flight (57 per cent), discounted health insurance (55 per cent), a $50 cash payment (52 per cent) exemption from quarantine (51 per cent) would work as incentives.

In this group eight in 10 said the key emotional driver for vaccination was they wanted to protect loved ones from Covid-19.

Free coffees for a month and exclusive access to cultural and sporting events were other incentives that would entice a third of those who have not yet had a jab to do so.

Extra frequent flyer points appealed to 28 per cent of the unvaccinated population, a donation to charity would work for 27 per cent of people, and a $30 in-flight food and beverage package was of interest to a further 28 per cent of respondents.

Top motivators for those who described themselves as “very likely” to get the vaccine were being exempt from quarantine (69 per cent), unrestricted travel (66 per cent), free return flights (63 per cent), $50 cash (59 per cent) and a health insurance discount (56 per cent).

Bishop Vincent Long gets the Covid-19 vaccine at the Vaccination Hub at Sydney Olympic Park. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

This group was likely to be active advocates for the vaccine with 54 per cent saying they would endorse the vaccine to family and friends — one in four would post about it on social media and one in five would use an “I got Covid-19 vaccine” sticker.

One in three Australians remain resistant or hesitant to getting the vaccine according to the survey, which was taken in May before the Melbourne outbreak which has seen vaccine queues lengthen.

Safety concerns and doubts about the vaccines efficacy against new strains were behind the hesitancy.

The survey found offering tangible personal rewards beyond the vaccine’s health benefits may help sway people in favour of vaccination.

Health Minister Greg Hunt appeared to pour cold water on the idea of following the US by offering a national lottery prize to entice people to get vaccinated.

“The strongest reason (to get vaccinated) is to avoid the lottery of Covid and avoid the lottery of death,” he said on Friday.

“The number one reason to be vaccinated is it can save your life. And it can save the life of your family and friends and so our message today is please come forward and be vaccinated at the earliest possible time.”

‘I HAVEN’T SEEN MY FAMILY SINCE CHRISTMAS 2019’

For UK-born Amy Bramman, a promise that she would be reunited with loved ones sooner would motivate her to get the jab.

“I haven’t seen my family and friends since Christmas 2019 and I have no idea as to when I will be able to again,” she said.

“My parents keep booking flights and then having to cancel them in the hope they can come and see me, but it just doesn’t look likely.

“If there was an incentive that travel would be possible for those who had the vaccine, then that would definitely be something I would be interested in.”

Cavill Stone, 29, Olivia Howe, 23, and Amy Bramman, 29, share their COVID vaccine incentives. Picture: Tara Croser

The 29-year-old, who has lived in Brisbane for more than two years, said additional benefits such as paid time off work and discounts on flights and health insurance could encourage hesitant Australians to get the jab.

“Most of my family and friends in the UK have either had it done or are getting it soon, so I think for the country to move forward and return to anywhere near normal, the vaccine is pretty much essential,” she said.

Her friend Cavill Stone, 29, suggested discounts to eateries and attractions for those who have received the vaccine.

“Discounts for cafes, restaurants or theme parks … would probably encourage me,” she said.

“I’d be more inclined to get the vaccine if it was going to open up opportunities for international travel and possibly be incentivised by travel vouchers and discounted accommodation.

“My brother lives in the UK and I haven’t seen him in years, so this would be a big motivator for me to get the jab. I think it would be a big boost for my mental health.”

Originally published as Australians reveal what would motivate them to get the Covid jab