One-third of Australians do not believe COVID-safe measures are important during the Christmas holiday season, and a similar number are ambivalent about having the latest vaccine.
The research, commissioned by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Australia, points to growing COVID fatigue, with a growing number of people ‘over’ measures such as wearing masks.
Conducted during Australia’s recent eighth wave of COVID, the survey results show that one-third of Australians do not believe that COVID-safe measures such as staying up to date with vaccinations, wearing masks, hand sanitisation and social distancing are important to protect against infection.
The COVID Community Sentiment Index, a quantitative research survey regularly commissioned by Pfizer, canvassed people’s views on COVID last month.
The results also reveal that about two-thirds of Australians do not think that new COVID variants will have a significant impact on them in one year’s time.
The findings have prompted experts to urge people to maintain COVID-safe practices over the holiday season.
Professor Robert Booy, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Sydney, warned Australians to resist complacency.
“As much as we would all like to forget about COVID-19, COVID-19 is not done with us,” he said.
“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 found that 57% of older Australians, who are often at higher risk of severe disease, believe new variants of COVID will not have a significant impact on them a year from now. A third of them also think that vaccinations will not be important in a year’s time.
Federal Government data shows that this month, an average of 165 Australians a day were admitted to hospital with COVID while 57 people were in intensive care units.
Professor Booy said that with many people travelling over the summer holiday period it was important to remember that “COVID loves a crowd.”
Several million people were not up to date with recommended vaccinations in the last six months, and it was particularly important for them to still take precautions over Christmas.