With Australia now into its second year of responding to COVID-19, healthcare remains the dominant community concern, even more so than earlier in the pandemic. When asked to name up to three issues that personally interest or concern them the most, and that the Australian Government should focus on, a majority of adults (59%) describe issues related to hospitals, healthcare and ageing.
In July 2021, amid limited vaccine eligibility and supply, seven in ten (73%) of Australians claim to be at least partially vaccinated (28%) or planning to have a vaccine when it becomes available to them (45%, including 32% who definitely plan to). This suggests public sentiment is on track to meet the 70% vaccination rate set by national cabinet for leaving lockdowns largely behind.
Most Australians remain concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic (85%, up from 81%) and their level of concern is increasing. Half (50%) of adults are now extremely or very concerned about COVID-19, up from 41% in February 2021.
Australians continue to feel optimistic about the future, despite ongoing disruption to their lives due to COVID-19. They remain most positive about their own personal situation: 43% feel they are heading in the right direction (up from 39% in November), almost three times those who feel they are heading in the wrong direction (15%).
Twelve months into Australia’s COVID-19 response, healthcare remains the dominant community concern. When asked to name up to three issues that personally interest or concern them the most, and that the Australian Government should focus on, four in ten adults (45%) continue to describe issues related to hospitals, healthcare and ageing.
Following the launch of the COVID-19 vaccination program, six in ten Australians (64%) say they plan to have a vaccine when it becomes available to them, including almost four in ten (39%) who definitely plan to.