RESULTS from new research conducted during Australia's eighth COVID-19 wave showed 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 the prevalent virus.
The COVID Community Sentiment Index, a quantitative research survey regularly commissioned by Pfizer Australia, canvassed Australians' views on COVID-19 last month, and showed that one-third do not believe that staying up to date with vaccinations is important nor is wearing masks, hand sanitisation and social distancing in protecting against the disease.
Additionally, just under two-thirds of Australians do not think that new COVID-19 variants will have a significant impact on them in one year.
Prof Robert Booy, an infectious diseases specialist from University of Sydney, is urging Australians to resist complacency ahead of the holiday season.
"As much as we would all like to forget about COVID-19, COVID-19 is not done with us," Booy remarked.
Evidence shows that the disease continues to evolve and have a significant impact on our communities, especially those at higher risk of severe illness, he said.
"With COVID-19 part of our new reality, we need to continue to embed some habits and measures to protect ourselves and our communities," he commented.
The research also found that more than half 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.
Moreover, one-third of older Australians think that vaccinations will not be important for protection against COVID-19 a year from now.
Federal Govt data shows that as of 01 Dec, an average of 165 Australians a day were admitted to hospital with COVID-19 and 57 people were in intensive care units with complications from the virus.
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 Nov.
"With many people travelling and gathering to celebrate the holiday season, it's important to remember that COVID loves a crowd.
"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 last six months.
"Taking precautions this Christmas season is only sensible," Booy explained. JG
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