Pharmacy Daily | First Nations trust in COVID vax high

SURVEY findings published in the Medical Journal of Australia today have revealed high levels of trust in COVID vaccines and their effectiveness among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

However, there were concerns that women and people living in rural and remote communities were less likely to consider the vaccines trustworthy and effective compared to men and people living in urban areas.

The researchers also reported that people aged 60 or older were less likely to be vaccinated than those in the 16-29 age bracket, although the older group did signal future intention to get vaccinated.

The Yarning About COVID project surveyed 530 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who were among the first groups in Australia to be targeted for vaccination against COVID.

The survey was conducted from Oct 2021 to May 2022, and included people aged 16 and older and covered a range of locations and education levels.

Overall, around three in four respondents considered the vaccines trustworthy, effective and able to slow the spread of COVID (71%, 73% and 73% respectively).

The authors noted the high levels of trust in Aboriginal community controlled health organisations, and suggested they should be consistently engaged to deliver effective and timely services in future pandemics.

"The high levels of trust in COVID vaccines and their effectiveness indicate that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are confident about their safety and efficacy and understand the importance of vaccination," wrote the authors.

"The findings also highlight a positive attitude to vaccination and a commitment to preventive health measures among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

"Health messages in future pandemics should be tailored to the concerns of their target audiences, particularly those of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and people living in regional and remote areas," concluded the authors.

Read the full paper HERE. KB