COVID safety

Results from new research conducted during Australia’s eighth COVID-19 wave show a third of Australians do not believe COVID-safe measures, such as staying up to date with vaccinations, wearing masks, hand sanitisation and social distancing, are important to protect against the disease.

The COVID Community Sentiment Index, a quantitative research survey regularly commissioned by Pfizer Australia, canvassed Australians’ views on COVID-19 in November of last year.

Results showed that one in three (33 per cent) Australians do not think COVID safe measures, such as wearing masks, hand sanitisation and social distancing are important for protection against the disease.

A third (34 per cent) also do not believe that staying up to date with vaccinations is important.

Just under two-thirds of Australians (64 per cent) do not think that new COVID-19 variants will have a significant impact on them in one year’s time.

Professor Robert Booy, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Sydney, urged Australians to resist complacency over the holiday season.

“As much as we would all like to forget about COVID-19, COVID-19 is not done with us.

“Evidence shows that the disease continues to evolve and have significant impact in our communities, especially those at higher risk of severe illness.

“With COVID-19 part of our new reality, we need to continue to embed some habits and measures to protect ourselves and our communities.”

The research also found more than half (57 per cent) of older Australians, who are often at higher risk of severe disease, believe new variants of COVID-19 will not have a significant impact on them a year from now.

A third (31 per cent) of older Australians think that vaccinations will not be important for protection against COVID-19 one year from now.

Federal government data showed that as of December 1, an average of 165 Australians a day were admitted to hospital with COVID-19 and 57 people were in intensive care units (ICU) with COVID-19 complications.

A recent report also found that 2.5 million people aged 65 years or older were not up to date with their six monthly COVID-19 vaccine dose, two million more than in 2022.

In addition, three-quarters of Australians aged 75 years or older had not received a COVID-19 vaccination in the six months leading up to November 2023.

“With many people travelling and gathering to celebrate the holiday season, it’s important to remember that COVID loves a crowd,” Professor Booy said.

“Even though most healthy Australians are protected against severe COVID, there remain a few million vulnerable people who have not had an updated COVID-19 vaccination in the past six months.

“Taking precautions this Christmas is only sensible.”

The federal government recommends all Australians aged five years and over should be vaccinated against COVID-19 to receive the best protection against serious illness.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) provides detailed guidance on COVID-19 vaccination recommendations for Australians based on age and risk factors for serious illness, including who should receive an additional 2023 COVID-19 vaccination dose.

For more information about COVID-19 vaccination doses, head to health.gov.au