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Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
Q. Once a vaccine for Covid-19 becomes available in Australia, how long would you wait before taking it?
18/01 | 14/12 | 10/08 | |
I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible | 42% | 43% | 56% |
I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 47% | 46% | 35% |
I’d never get vaccinated | 11% | 10% | 8% |
Base (n) | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 |
Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible | 42% | 51% | 34% | 30% | 42% | 54% | 48% | 49% | 34% | 33% | ||
I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 47% | 38% | 55% | 57% | 46% | 39% | 44% | 44% | 57% | 42% | ||
I’d never get vaccinated | 11% | 11% | 11% | 14% | 13% | 7% | 8% | 7% | 9% | 25% | ||
Base (n) | 1,084 | 539 | 545 | 341 | 358 | 385 | 334 | 431 | 118 | 106 | ||
- Fewer people say they would get a Covid-19 vaccine immediately than mid last year. 42% would get a vaccine as soon as possible, down from 56% last August. 47% would get vaccinated, but just not straight away (up from 35% in August) and 11% say they would never get vaccinated.
- Those most likely to get the vaccine immediately include men (51%) and those aged over 55 (54%).
- Those voting for independent or minor parties are the most likely to say they would never get vaccinated (25%).
Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
Q. Once a vaccine for Covid-19 becomes available in Australia, how long would you wait before taking it?
14/12 | 10/08 | |
I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible | 43% | 56% |
I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 46% | 35% |
I’d never get vaccinated | 10% | 8% |
Base (n) | 1,071 | 1,010 |
Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible | 43% | 53% | 35% | 35% | 41% | 53% | 44% | 48% | 45% | 42% | ||
I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 46% | 41% | 51% | 54% | 48% | 38% | 52% | 43% | 44% | 39% | ||
I’d never get vaccinated | 10% | 6% | 14% | 11% | 11% | 9% | 5% | 8% | 11% | 19% | ||
Base (n) | 1,071 | 539 | 532 | 339 | 374 | 358 | 356 | 406 | 102 | 107 | ||
- Fewer people say they would get a Covid-19 vaccine immediately than earlier in the year. 43% would get a vaccine as soon as possible, down from 56% in August. 46% would get vaccinated, but just not straight away (up from 35%) and 10% say they would never get vaccinated.
- Those most likely to get the vaccine immediately include men (53%), those aged over 55 (53%).
- Those voting for independent of minor parties are most likely to say they would never get a vaccine (19%).
Interest in news stories
Q. How closely have you been following these news stories in the last fortnight?
The trial results of Covid-19 vaccines
Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
Very closely | 23% | 28% | 18% | 16% | 27% | 25% | 21% | 27% | 25% | 22% |
Fairly closely | 43% | 42% | 44% | 47% | 37% | 46% | 51% | 44% | 35% | 33% |
Not that closely | 25% | 23% | 26% | 28% | 25% | 22% | 21% | 23% | 31% | 29% |
Not closely at all | 9% | 7% | 11% | 9% | 11% | 7% | 7% | 5% | 10% | 15% |
TOTAL: Closely | 66% | 70% | 63% | 63% | 63% | 72% | 72% | 71% | 59% | 55% |
TOTAL: Not closely | 34% | 30% | 37% | 37% | 37% | 28% | 28% | 29% | 41% | 45% |
Base (n) | 1,034 | 528 | 506 | 329 | 320 | 385 | 322 | 430 | 88 | 107 |
Uptake of Covid-19 vaccine
Q. If and when a vaccine for Covid-19 becomes available, how long would you wait before taking it?
Gender | Age group | |||||
Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | |
I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible | 56% | 60% | 53% | 50% | 54% | 64% |
I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 35% | 33% | 37% | 38% | 37% | 30% |
I’d never get vaccinated | 8% | 7% | 10% | 11% | 9% | 6% |
Base (n) | 1,010 | 505 | 505 | 302 | 331 | 377 |
Federal Voting Intention | ||||
Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible | 66% | 57% | 43% | 44% |
I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 29% | 36% | 45% | 34% |
I’d never get vaccinated | 5% | 7% | 10% | 21% |
Base (n) | 311 | 413 | 78 | 94 |
Time to return to normal
Q. Thinking about the future, how long do you think it will take for the following to occur?
Within the next six months | Seven months up to one year | One to two years | More than two years | Never | |
Quarantine will no longer required after international travel | 12% | 27% | 35% | 22% | 4% |
A Covid-19 vaccine will be developed | 11% | 22% | 43% | 20% | 4% |
The housing market will return pre-pandemic levels | 11% | 22% | 38% | 25% | 4% |
International travel will be allowed without restriction | 10% | 23% | 39% | 24% | 4% |
Unemployment will return to pre-pandemic levels | 8% | 17% | 37% | 33% | 6% |
The population will build resistance to Covid-19 through exposure (herd immunity) | 8% | 15% | 31% | 27% | 20% |
Australia will pay off its national debt | 5% | 9% | 12% | 52% | 22% |
WITHIN NEXT SIX MONTHS | Gender | Age Group | |||
Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | |
Quarantine will no longer required after international travel | 13% | 10% | 14% | 14% | 7% |
A Covid-19 vaccine will be developed | 15% | 8% | 16% | 12% | 7% |
The housing market will return pre-pandemic levels | 13% | 8% | 15% | 11% | 6% |
International travel will be allowed without restriction | 12% | 9% | 16% | 13% | 4% |
Unemployment will return to pre-pandemic levels | 8% | 7% | 13% | 8% | 3% |
The population will build resistance to Covid-19 through exposure (herd immunity) | 9% | 7% | 11% | 9% | 3% |
Australia will pay off its national debt | 7% | 3% | 9% | 6% | 1% |
Base (n) | 525 | 554 | 332 | 362 | 385 |

COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Download this week's ReportEssential Report
Two Party Preferred:
Labor
45%
Coalition
48%
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Top Federal Government priorities for 2021
- Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
- Perceptions of change in the standard of living for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Changing views towards Australia Day
- Support towards a separate national day
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