Understanding COVID vaccine attitudes in regional WA

With COVID vaccinations rolling out across Australia, a research team from The University of Western Australia and the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases at Telethon Kids Institute is seeking WA study participants to learn more about community attitudes towards COVID vaccines.

In particular, the researchers are seeking people who live in rural, regional, and remote Western Australia to participate in the study.

"We are excited to engage with different parts of the WA community on this important issue and to understand views which may otherwise go unheard by the governments."

Dr Katie Attwell

Some of the questions they are seeking answers to include if and why people want a vaccine, people’s thoughts on getting a COVID vaccine compared to other vaccines and any concerns they may have about a vaccine or vaccination policies.

Lead researcher Dr Katie Attwell from the UWA School of Social Sciences said it was important to hear people’s voices and the study would compile useful information to assist with the rollout. 

“We are excited to engage with different parts of the WA community on this important issue and to understand views which may otherwise go unheard by the governments in Perth and Canberra.” Dr Attwell said.

“The information we collect will be of great use, allowing the vaccine roll out to consider the unique perspectives and conditions of regional WA.

“We are keen to hear from people over the age of 18 from all sorts of communities in WA, including people who are happy with the vaccine rollout and those who have some concerns.”

The study involves a five-minute pre-screening survey, and a one-on-one interview lasting an hour, which will be recorded. Regional interviews will be conducted virtually.

Participants will receive a supermarket gift voucher worth $20. All information provided by participants will remain confidential.

Dr Samantha Carlson from the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, based at Telethon Kids Institute, said the information gathered through the project would be regularly fed back to Government and stakeholders.

“The insight we gather through this work will help shape the strategy for reaching out to different groups in the community to ensure they get the information they need about COVID-19 vaccination,” Dr Carlson said.

To participate in the Coronavax study visit https://redcap.link/coronavaxWA or if you have any questions email [email protected]. For more information visit www.uwa.edu.au/Coronavax