Knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and attitudes to and behaviours regarding COVID-19 and influenza vaccination: a survey

Abstract

Objectives: To assess Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's knowledge about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines, and their attitudes to and behaviours regarding COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations. Study design: Web-based survey. Setting: Australia (excluding the Northern Territory), 1 October 2021 to 31 May 2022. Participants: Convenience sample of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 16 years or older living in Australia. Main outcome measures: Proportions of respondents who reported knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines, and attitudes to and behaviours regarding COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations. Results: A total of 530 people provided valid survey responses; their median age was 27 years (interquartile range, 23–38 years), 255 (48%) were from urban areas, and 309 (58%) were men. Of the 480 participants (91%) who provided complete survey questions (including sex and location information), larger proportion of men than women believed COVID-19 vaccines were very or extremely trustworthy (219, 79% v 124, 61%) and very or extremely effective (212, 76% v 138, 68%). The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccination was lower among respondents aged 60 years or older than among those aged 16–29 years (adjusted prevalence ration [PR], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66–0.99). After adjusting for socio-demographic factors, the association between intention to receive the influenza vaccine and receiving the COVID-19 vaccine was statistically significant (adjusted PR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.09–1.27). Conclusion: The high levels of trust in COVID-19 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. The findings also highlight a positive attitude to vaccination and a commitment to preventive health measures among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.