Satisfaction with speed of Covid-19 vaccine rollout
Q. Which of the following best describes your view on how quickly Australians are being vaccinated against Covid-19?
They are being vaccinated…
Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||||||
Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |||||
… much more quickly than I would like | 13% | 16% | 10% | 17% | 18% | 4% | 10% | 12% | 16% | 22% | |||
… a bit more quickly than I would like | 8% | 8% | 7% | 12% | 9% | 2% | 7% | 10% | 8% | 6% | |||
… at about the right speed | 19% | 18% | 20% | 24% | 20% | 13% | 15% | 21% | 22% | 14% | |||
… a bit more slowly than I would like | 25% | 23% | 26% | 24% | 19% | 31% | 23% | 34% | 19% | 13% | |||
… a lot more slowly than I would like | 27% | 28% | 27% | 15% | 24% | 42% | 37% | 19% | 30% | 30% | |||
Unsure | 9% | 7% | 11% | 9% | 11% | 8% | 8% | 4% | 6% | 16% | |||
TOTAL: More quickly than I would like | 20% | 24% | 17% | 29% | 27% | 6% | 16% | 22% | 24% | 28% | |||
TOTAL: More slowly than I would like | 52% | 52% | 53% | 39% | 43% | 73% | 60% | 52% | 49% | 42% | |||
Base (n) | 1,368 | 669 | 699 | 426 | 460 | 482 | 483 | 471 | 123 | 165 | |||
- Just over half of Australians (52%) think Australians are being vaccinated against Covid-19 more slowly than they would like, with nearly a third (27%) feeling vaccinations are progressing a lot more slowly than they would like.
- 20% think Australians are being vaccinated against Covid-19 more quickly than they would like and 9% are unsure.
- Those over 55 are much more likely than younger cohorts to think the vaccine rollout is progressing more slowly than they would like (73% compared to 43% of those 35-54 and 39% those 18-34).
- Labor voters are the most likely voters to think the vaccine rollout is progressing more slowly than they would like (60% compared to 52% Coalition voters, 49% Greens voters and 42% independent and minor party voters).
Party most responsible for slow vaccine rollout
Q. Which do you think is MOST responsible for Australians being vaccinated more slowly than you would like?
[Asked only to those who think Australians are being vaccinated against Covid-19 a bit / a lot more slowly than they would like]
Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
The federal government | 42% | 45% | 39% | 36% | 51% | 40% | 57% | 24% | 44% | 49% | ||
State and territory governments | 7% | 8% | 7% | 16% | 7% | 4% | 5% | 11% | 5% | 13% | ||
International supply chains | 24% | 29% | 20% | 24% | 19% | 28% | 17% | 35% | 20% | 17% | ||
Unavoidable delays in the production of vaccines | 18% | 13% | 22% | 15% | 18% | 19% | 15% | 22% | 22% | 16% | ||
Unsure | 8% | 6% | 11% | 9% | 6% | 9% | 6% | 8% | 8% | 5% | ||
Base (n) | 713 | 356 | 357 | 165 | 194 | 354 | 291 | 242 | 61 | 72 | ||
- The largest cohort within the group of those who think Australians are being vaccinated against Covid-19 more slowly than they would like, think the federal government is most responsible for this (42%).
- About a quarter (24%) place the onus on international supply chains, followed by 18% who feel unavoidable delays in the production of vaccines are the main reason for the slow progress of the vaccine rollout in Australia.
- Only 7% think state and territory governments are most responsible and 8% are unsure.
- Those most likely to place responsibility on the federal government for Australians being vaccinated more slowly than they would like include those aged 35-54 (51%) and Labor voters (57%).
- Coalition voters are the most likely to think international supply chains are most responsible for the delays (35%).
Views towards progress of Covid-19 vaccine rollout
Q. As you may be aware, distribution of the Covid-19 vaccines is primarily the responsibility of the federal government.
Scott Morrison promised in January this year that 4 million Australians would be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of March. This target was shifted out in March to 4 million Australians by April 26th. As of April 2nd, 750,000 Australians have been vaccinated.
How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
TOTAL: Agree | TOTAL: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Neither agree nor disagree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | |
I’m confident that 4 million Australians will be vaccinated against Covid-19 by April 26th | 19% | 55% | 6% | 13% | 26% | 24% | 31% |
The federal government needs to step up and take more responsibility for ensuring Australians are vaccinated against Covid-19 as quickly as possible | 56% | 17% | 28% | 29% | 27% | 10% | 7% |
Delays in the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines are due to circumstances outside the federal government’s control, and there’s nothing more they could have done about it | 47% | 26% | 15% | 32% | 27% | 17% | 10% |
The slower than expected rollout indicates that the federal government is not doing as good a job as they claimed | 48% | 25% | 21% | 27% | 27% | 16% | 9% |
TOTAL: Agree | Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||||
Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
I’m confident that 4 million Australians will be vaccinated against Covid-19 by April 26th | 19% | 25% | 13% | 22% | 28% | 7% | 14% | 27% | 21% | 13% | ||
The federal government needs to step up and take more responsibility for ensuring Australians are vaccinated against Covid-19 as quickly as possible | 56% | 58% | 55% | 51% | 56% | 61% | 65% | 53% | 62% | 54% | ||
Delays in the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines are due to circumstances outside the federal government’s control, and there’s nothing more they could have done about it | 47% | 51% | 43% | 41% | 50% | 48% | 37% | 66% | 36% | 39% | ||
The slower than expected rollout indicates that the federal government is not doing as good a job as they claimed | 48% | 50% | 46% | 45% | 51% | 47% | 59% | 37% | 61% | 49% | ||
Base (n) | 1,368 | 669 | 699 | 426 | 460 | 482 | 483 | 471 | 123 | 165 | ||
- Well over half (56%) of Australians agree the federal government needs to step up and take more responsibility for ensuring Australians are vaccinated against Covid-19 as quickly as possible. Labor voters and those over 55 are the most likely to agree with this (65% and 61% respectively).
- Just under half (48%) agree the slower than expected rollout indicates that the federal government is not doing as good a job as they claimed. Labor voters and Greens voters are most likely to follow this view (59% and 61%).
- However, just under half as well (47%) agree the delays in the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines are due to circumstances outside the federal government’s control, and there’s nothing more they could have done about it. The majority of Coalition voters align with this view (66%).
- Only 19% are confident that 4 million Australians will be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of the month.
Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
Q. The Covid-19 vaccine rollout has begun in Australia.
Once a vaccine becomes available to you, how long would you wait before taking it?
15/03 | 01/03 | 18/01 | 14/12 | 10/08 | |
I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible / I’ve already been vaccinated | 47% | 50% | 42% | 43% | 56% |
I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 40% | 40% | 47% | 46% | 35% |
I’d never get vaccinated | 12% | 10% | 11% | 10% | 8% |
Base (n) | 1,124 | 1,074 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 |
- With the launch of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout underway nationwide, just under half (47%) now say they would get vaccinated as soon as possible – a slight dip from earlier in March but still noticeably higher than levels at the end of 2020 and at the start of this year.
- The same proportion of people as earlier in the month say that would get vaccinated but not straight away (40%).
- Just over 1 in 10 (12%) say that would never get vaccinated, consistent with levels seen in the last few months.
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 / I’ve already been vaccinated | 47% | 51% | 42% | 33% | 44% | 60% | 46% | 55% | 45% | 42% | ||
I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 40% | 36% | 43% | 50% | 38% | 32% | 42% | 35% | 42% | 33% | ||
I’d never get vaccinated | 12% | 9% | 15% | 16% | 13% | 7% | 11% | 8% | 12% | 20% | ||
Base (n) | 1,124 | 553 | 571 | 337 | 383 | 404 | 375 | 410 | 98 | 142 | ||
- Those most likely to get the vaccine immediately include men (51%) and those aged over 55 (60%).
- Those voting for independent or minor parties are the most likely to say they would never get vaccinated (20%).
Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
Q. The Covid-19 vaccine rollout has begun in Australia.
Once a vaccine becomes available to you, how long would you wait before taking it?
01/03 | 18/01 | 14/12 | 10/08 | |
I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible / I’ve already been vaccinated | 50% | 42% | 43% | 56% |
I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 40% | 47% | 46% | 35% |
I’d never get vaccinated | 10% | 11% | 10% | 8% |
Base (n) | 1,074 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 |
- With the launch of the Covid-19 vaccine nationwide rollout last week, about half (50%) now say they would get vaccinated as soon as possible – a noticeable rise from the 42% in January. Correspondingly, fewer people now say that would get vaccinated but not straight away (40% to 47% in January).
- 1 in 10 say that would never get vaccinated, consistent with levels seen in the last few months.
Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
Q. The Covid-19 vaccine rollout has begun in Australia.
Once a vaccine becomes available to you, how long would you wait before taking it?
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 / I’ve already been vaccinated | 50% | 58% | 42% | 41% | 44% | 63% | 50% | 56% | 58% | 45% | ||
I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 40% | 34% | 46% | 47% | 43% | 31% | 41% | 38% | 33% | 37% | ||
I’d never get vaccinated | 10% | 7% | 12% | 11% | 13% | 6% | 10% | 6% | 8% | 18% | ||
Base (n) | 1,074 | 527 | 547 | 326 | 363 | 385 | 335 | 396 | 106 | 138 | ||
- Those most likely to get the vaccine immediately include men (58%) and those aged over 55 (63%).
- Those voting for independent or minor parties are the most likely to say they would never get vaccinated (18%).
Confidence in Covid-19 vaccine rollout
Q. As vaccinations against Covid-19 are rolled out across Australia, how confident are you in each of the following?
That the rollout of vaccinations against Covid-19 in Australia will be…
TOTAL: Confident | 01/03 | 01/02 |
… done efficiently | 68% | 68% |
… done safely | 73% | 72% |
… effective at stopping Covid-19 within the country | 64% | 58% |
Base (n) | 1,074 | 1,092 |
- With the Covid-19 vaccine rollout underway, more people are now confident it will be effective at stopping Covid-19 within the country (64% to 58% last month).
- Most people are also confident the rollout will be done efficiently (68%) and that it will be done safely (73%), consistent with levels last month.
Confidence in Covid-19 vaccine rollout
Q. As vaccinations against Covid-19 are rolled out across Australia, how confident are you in each of the following?
TOTAL: Confident | Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||||
Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
… done efficiently | 68% | 74% | 61% | 67% | 64% | 73% | 66% | 78% | 66% | 58% | ||
… done safely | 73% | 80% | 67% | 71% | 69% | 80% | 70% | 84% | 78% | 61% | ||
… effective at stopping Covid-19 within the country | 64% | 72% | 57% | 63% | 61% | 69% | 64% | 75% | 65% | 52% | ||
Base (n) | 1,074 | 527 | 547 | 326 | 363 | 385 | 335 | 396 | 106 | 138 | ||
- While confidence in the Covid-19 rollout is relatively high across all demographics, those who are older are more confident than younger cohorts. For example, 80% of those over 55 are confident it will be done safely, compared to 69% those aged 35-54 and 71% of those 18-34. This trend is also reflected in confidence in the rollout’s efficiency and effectiveness.
- Out of all voters, Coalition voters are the most confident that the vaccine rollout will be done safely, with 84% who are confident and of this, over a third (33%) who are very confident.

COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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Two Party Preferred:
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Federal government response to Covid-19
- State government response to Covid-19
- Confidence in Labor government handling of Covid-19 pandemic
- Satisfaction with speed of Covid-19 vaccine rollout
- Party most responsible for slow vaccine rollout
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