Growing number of Australians are unwilling to take a Covid vaccine - but there is overwhelming public backing for ongoing foreign travel bans
There has been a rise in the number of Australians who say they would refuse to take a Covid-19 vaccine although they remain in the minority, new data reveals.
Roy Morgan survey showed willingness to take a vaccine dropped from 87 per cent in April to 77 per cent in a new poll, with the number of unwilling climbing from seven to 12 per cent.
The survey of 1000 adults taken in November also revealed that men (83 per cent) are more willing to be vaccinated than women (72 per cent).
Survey data reveals an increase in the number of Australians unwilling to receive a Covid vaccine.
The Australian government is currently in agreement with four separate Covid vaccines, including the Pfizer vaccine, with a potential nine others still in clinical trials.
The rollout of the first vaccines is due to begin late next month.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has stated that vaccinations 'will be as mandatory as you can make it' in Australia but admitted that people cannot be held down and forced to take it.
New data reveals that men are significantly less opposed to receiving a Covid vaccine than women
The survey also showed support for international travel restrictions remained very strong at 91 per cent, as did approval of the government's handling of the pandemic (82 per cent).
Three quarters of respondents disagreed with the assertion that the risk of Covid-19 was exaggerated, and the same figure of 75 per cent said they were prepared to sacrifice some of their rights to prevent the spread of the virus.
The head of the Therapeutic Goods Administration John Skeritt, said he hopes approval of one or more vaccines will happen as early as late January, or early February.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said that Australia will adopt a similar policy to the UK when prioritising who will get the vaccine first, with health care workers and the elderly at the top of the list.
Data also revealed that West Australians are the most sceptical about the vaccine, with only 69 per cent saying they would be willing to have the jab, whereas Tasmanians were the most enthusiastic, with 84 per cent ready for the injection.
On international travel, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said that countries will have to work together to create 'a common set of recognitions' around vaccines for overseas trips to safely resume.
While the Australian government has said for many months that it was on the brink of arranging travel 'bubbles' with countries with low rates of infection, but as yet have not arranged any.