Young women chary of getting Covid-19 jab

Young women are the most reluctant group to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, a new ANU study says.

Scott Morrison. Picture: Gary Ramage

Young women are the most reluctant group to receive a COVID-19 vaccine but their attitudes could change depending on their level of trust towards the government, an Australian Nat­ional University study says.

A survey of more than 3000 Australians shows that more than half of young men aged 18 to 24 are keen to be vaccinated as soon as possible (62 per cent), compared with 43 per cent of women in the same age group. Those over 65 were the most willing to be vaccinated (80 per cent), with most Australians (64 per cent) indicating they would get the jab as soon as possible.

ANU professor at the Research School of Psychology, Kate Reynolds, said trust in the government was a crucial factor in determining people’s willingness to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

“We found people — regardless of ethnicity, age and gender — who have greater confidence in state and federal governments are more willing to be vaccin­ated,” she said. “Social cohesion also mattered. We found key drivers of getting vaccinated for COVID-19 included when people had a sense of belonging in their neighbourhood, and a belief people are being treated fairly.“

Experts said the research could assist the government in getting reluctant groups and the undecided over the line. “It shows us trust in the government and social cohesion are important. If young women have been put off the government because of the handling of sexual harassment and political culture, they could well turn off engaging about vaccination,” Professor Reynolds said.

About 30 per cent of young women aged 18-24 reported confidence in the federal government compared to the rest of the population at 47 per cent.

Scott Morrison on Wednesday said he did not think delays to the vaccine rollout would impact confidence in its efficacy or deter Australians from receiving a jab.

“Supply issues is what is constraining and has constrained, particularly over recent months, the overall rollout of the vaccine,” he said.

“Australia has a proud history when it comes to the vaccination of our people, particularly for child immunisation.

“We lead the world in these areas. We have the best regulator, I believe, in the world, and I think Australians can have great con­fidence about that.”

Lead researcher Diana Car­denas said there was no difference in vaccine willingness or hesitancy between individuals born in Australia and those born outside of Australia.

“It was also the case that most states and territories had similar levels of willingness to get the vaccination,” she said.