Fear of missing out drives early surge in QLD vax rates after tough new mandate rules announced

The fear of missing out when Queensland’s tough new restrictions on the unvaccinated kick is likely behind an early surge in the state’s jab rates, with hopes 90 per cent of the state’s eligible adults could have their first dose by mid-December.

The fear of missing out when Queensland’s tough new restrictions on the unvaccinated kick is likely behind an early surge in the state’s jab rates, according to an infectious disease expert.

More than 18,300 Queenslanders received their first dose of the Covid-19 jab on Wednesday, the highest daily increase recorded in two weeks.

As it stands 80.55 per cent of Queenslanders have had their first jab and 68.84 have had their second.

About 800,000 Queenslanders aged 16 or older are yet to get the jab and risk being denied access to pubs, clubs, stadiums and other public facilities from December 17.

On the state’s current seven day average of first doses, about 90 per cent of eligible adults would have had at least one jab by mid-December.

Infectious disease expert Dr Paul Griffin said it was “very likely” those getting the jab now were being motivated by the fear of missing out once tough new vaccination mandates kick in.

“Given we haven’t seen Covid-19 here, there’s been little perceived risk (of the disease) or benefit of getting vaccinated,” he said.

“The new rules give people a really clear idea that there is a clear benefit for them, and likely converted some people that were on the fence or apathetic to getting vaccinated.”

At current rates, about 90 per cent of eligible Queenslanders could have had at least one jab by mid-December. NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

University of Sydney infectious disease paediatrician Professor Robert Booy said he estimated vaccine mandates may drive an extra 3 or 5 per cent of the population to get the jab.

Prof Booy said vaccine mandates were a “lesser but potentially relevant motivating factor”, and that the main driver to get the jab would still be people afraid of getting Covid-19.

More “strategies” will be needed along the way to get as many people vaccinated as possible Dr Griffin said, as jab rates will slow back down.

Public health orders will be made in coming days to set Queensland’s vaccine mandate in stone, a move that would allow businesses to require their staff to get the jab.

La Trobe University psychology lecturer Dr Mathew Marques said mandates were a “blunt instrument” that were effective but would be “exclusionary” in the long-term.

He said mandates, which affected a minority of people, was a complex issue that fell to the common dilemma of “my rights and the rights of those around me”.

“And thinking of one’s own personal liberties is ignoring that one’s actions about choosing not to be vaccinated also has an impact on other’s health and safety,” Dr Marques said.

Originally published as Fear of missing out drives early surge in QLD vax rates after tough new mandate rules announced