NSW’s roadmap out of lockdowns plans to lift all coronavirus restrictions once the state reaches a 90% full vaccination rate, which is expected by 1 December.
Several ‘COVID-zero’ states have also stated that they won’t open their borders to the virus states until 90% full vaccination is reached.
The good news is that vaccine hesitancy among Australians has plunged, according to the Melbourne Institute’s Vaccine Report, which suggests that achieving 90% vaccination is a realistic goal.
As shown in the next chart, vaccine hesitancy nationally has plunged from a peak of 35.5% in May to 15.0% as at 23 September:
More importantly, those “not willing to be vaccinated” has fallen from 19% to just 8.2%.
As expected, the virus-infected states are showing lower levels of hesitancy.
In NSW, only 7.4% of residents are “not willing to be vaccinated”, whereas 6.1% “don’t know”:
In Victoria, only 6.9% of residents are “not willing to be vaccinated”, whereas 4.8% “don’t know”:
In QLD, 11.1% of residents are “not willing to be vaccinated”, whereas 9.0% “don’t know”:
In WA, 8.9% of residents are “not willing to be vaccinated”, whereas 9.1% “don’t know”:
In SA, 7.8% of residents are “not willing to be vaccinated”, whereas 8.8% “don’t know”:
Across the other jurisdictions, 5.3% of residents are “not willing to be vaccinated”, whereas 6.2% “don’t know”:
If the “don’t knows” can be convinced (or incentivised) to get the jab, and the “not willing to be vaccinated” crew continues to decline, then Australia should hit the 90% vaccine target by early 2021 (earlier across the virus states).
