People hesitant to get COVID booster shots while other nations lack access: ANU research

But the research also found that a portion of people are hesitant to receive their third dose while other nations are unable to access doses.

About 5.3 per cent of ACT residents over 18 have received their booster shot, which is available to people who received their second dose at least six months ago.

The ANU survey, conducted in October, asked almost 3500 people whether they would receive a booster vaccine if it was recommended and there were four response options.

The majority of respondents - 71.9 per cent - said they would definitely get the booster; 22 per cent said they would probably get one, 4.7 per cent said they probably wouldn't and 1.3 per cent said they definitely wouldn't.

Those who indicated they would "probably get a booster" said they had concerns that others needed vaccines more and they were worried about side effects.

Those who "definitely" and "probably" wouldn't get a booster shot were most worried about side effects.

Study co-author Professor Nicholas Biddle said a supply boost for Australia's surrounding regions might help people to combat this hesitancy.

"This reinforces the need to boost supply of COVID-19 vaccines for the region, not only because many countries in the Asia Pacific have very low vaccination rates, but also because it will reassure Australians that they can get a booster without putting others at risk," Professor Biddle said.

The research found that young men who have not finished high school, live outside of advantaged areas and those who speak a language other than English were most reluctant to get a booster vaccine.

"Evidence-based targeted interventions for these groups may be necessary to ensure that immunity disparities do not emerge in 2022 and beyond," Professor Biddle said.

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ACT government research, conducted earlier this year, also found a targeted campaign may be needed to encourage people to come forward for boosters.

It found a small portion of people reluctantly received their COVID-19 vaccine and they might be hesitant to come forward for their top-up jab.

The research also found vaccine hesitancy was higher in states and territories where there had not been a third wave and that education and socioeconomic factors played a part in this.

"Results confirm that vaccine rates are low in the states and territories that did not experience significant lockdowns during the third wave of COVID-19 infections in Australia," the report said.

"Controlling for these differences, we also find that education and the socioeconomic status of the area in which a person lives to be the main determinant of vaccine uptake."

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