Roy Morgan Research
April 11, 2021

Australians still set to take the vaccine: but opinion is divided on PM Scott Morrison’s handling of all COVID-19 related issues.

Finding No: 8678

Now 83% of Australians have either already been vaccinated (7%), say they are willing to be vaccinated (69%) or would be willing to be vaccinated once the Pfizer vaccine becomes available (7%) – a total of 83% and an increase of 3% points since February, according to a special Roy Morgan Snap SMS survey conducted on Friday April 9 and Saturday April 10, 2021.

Now 83% of Australians have either already been vaccinated (7%), say they are willing to be vaccinated (69%) or would be willing to be vaccinated once the Pfizer vaccine becomes available (7%) – a total of 83% and an increase of 3% points since February, according to a special Roy Morgan Snap SMS survey conducted on Friday April 9 and Saturday April 10, 2021.

Although the vast majority of Australians – across all ages, genders, States and political party allegiances- are willing to take the vaccine or have already done so, there is a strong political divide. Only 13% of L-NP voters say they will not be vaccinated, while more than 1-in-5 Labor and Green voters and those who vote for Independents and other parties express unwillingness to be vaccinated.

The nation is evenly split on Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s handling of all COVID-19 related issues with 51% disapproving of Morrison’s handling of the pandemic and 49% approving.

Clear majority support for Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s handling of all COVID-19 related issues is recorded among Australians aged 65+, people in country areas, NSW, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania, as well as L-NP supporters.

In contrast a majority of younger Australians, women, people in capital cities and Victoria as well as supporters of the ALP and the Greens disapprove of Morrison’s handling of the pandemic.

Australians surveyed were each asked the following questions:

  • Question 1: “Are you willing to be vaccinated for COVID-19 or not?” Respondents who said “No” were then asked: “If the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 became available would you be willing to be vaccinated?” Already vaccinated 7%,Yes 69%, Yes (with Pfizer vaccine) 7%, TOTAL Yes 83% cf. No 17%.
  • Question 2Thinking about Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s handling of all COVID-19 related issues. Do you approve or disapprove?” Approve 49% cf. Disapprove 51%.

This special Roy Morgan Snap SMS survey was conducted with an Australia-wide cross-section of 1,423 Australians aged 18+ on Friday April 9 – Saturday April 10, 2021.


Australians aged 65+ are most likely to be getting a vaccine (or already vaccinated)

In mid-April, 16% of Australians aged 65+ have already been vaccinated – three times the rate of any other age group –  a further 68% of this age group say they are willing to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and another 6% would be willing to be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine -  a total of 90% of the age group most at risk from a potential COVID-19 infection.

Next most likely are Australians aged 50-64 of whom 6% have already been vaccinated, 72% say they are willing to be vaccinated and 8% say they would be willing to be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine – a total of 85% of this age group. People aged 50-64 have had the biggest positive increase in those expressing a willingness to be vaccinated – up 5% points since mid-February.

In contrast, younger Australians aged under 50 are less likely than either of the older age groups to express a willingness to be vaccinated, 79% of people aged under 50 express a willingness for being vaccinated (5% already vaccinated, 67% willing to be vaccinated and 7% willing to be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine). 21% of people under 50 are unwilling to be vaccinated – a potential problem.


Men are still more willing to be vaccinated but women have closed the gap since mid-February

Men are again more likely than women to express a willingness to be vaccinated with 84% either already vaccinated (6%), willing to be vaccinated (73%) or willing to be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine (5%) – a total of 84% up only 1% point since mid-February.

Women are ‘catching up’ to men over their willingness to be vaccinated compared to mid-February with 81% either already vaccinated (9%), willing to be vaccinated (64%) or willing to be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine (8%) – a total of 81% up 4% points since mid-February.


L-NP supporters most willing to be vaccinated far ahead of ALP or Greens supporters

L-NP supporters are more likely to express a willingness to be vaccinated than two months ago with 87% now saying they are willing to be vaccinated including 6% who are already vaccinated, 72% who say they are willing to be vaccinated and a further 9% who are willing to be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine – a total of 87% and up 5% points since mid-February.

In contrast the willingness of ALP supporters to be vaccinated is unchanged from mid-February at 78% including 6% who are already vaccinated, 63% who are willing to be vaccinated and a further 9% who are willing to be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine.

The interesting result is for Greens supporters, 79% of whom are now willing to be vaccinated, down 5% points since mid-February. Only 3% of Greens supporters have already been vaccinated while a further 73% say they are willing to be vaccinated with an additional 3% willing to be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine.


People in Capital Cities more willing to be vaccinated than those in Country Areas

A large majority of 85% of Australians in Capital Cities say they are willing to be vaccinated (8% already vaccinated, 71% willing to be vaccinated and 6% willing to be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine) compared to 79% of people in Country Areas (6% already vaccinated, 66% willing to be vaccinated and 7% willing to be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine). These totals represent small increases of 2% points for people in Capital Cities and 4% for people in Country Areas willing to be vaccinated since mid-February.

At a State level people in Tasmania are most willing to be vaccinated (88%, up 13% points since mid-February)– and have also increased the most in their willingness to be vaccinated since mid-February.

Next most willing to be vaccinated are people in Victoria (85%, up 3% points since mid-February), New South Wales (84%, down 2% points) and Western Australia (82%, up 6% points).

Least willing to be vaccinated – although still a clear majority – are people in South Australia (78%, up 2% points since mid-February) and Queensland (79%, up 8% points).


Approval of Scott Morrison’s handling of COVID-19 is highest among older Australians aged 65+

Older Australians are easily the most likely to approve of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s handling of all COVID-19 related issues with 62% approving compared to only 38% disapproving.

Their views are almost directly reversed by younger Australians aged under 35 of whom 61% disapprove of Morrison’s handling of all COVID-19 related issues compared to only 39% that approve.

People aged both 35-49 (49% approve cf. 51% disapprove) and 50-64 (50% approve cf. 50% disapprove) are almost equally split on the question.

There is little difference by gender with 50% of men approving and 50% disapproving of Morrison’s handling of all COVID-19 related issues while a small majority of 52% of women disapprove compared to 48% who approve.


Victoria is the weakest state for Morrison with 62% disapproving of his handling of COVID-19 related issues

The results at a State level reveal where the lack of support lies for Morrison with 62% of Victorians disapproving of his handling of all COVID-19 related issues compared to only 38% who approve.

Interestingly small majorities of people in four States including NSW (54%), Queensland (55%), WA (51%) and Tasmania (52%) approve of the way Morrison has handled all COVID-19 related issues.

South Australians are evenly split with 50% approving and 50% disapproving.

On a regional level Morrison enjoys the approval of a slim majority of 51% of people in Country Areas compared to 49% that disapprove while this result is reversed for those in Capital Cities with 52% disapproving of his handling of all COVID-19 related issues and 48% approving.


L-NP supporters approve of Morrison’s handling of COVID-19 related issues while ALP & Greens supporters don’t

Unsurprisingly a clear majority of 60% of L-NP supporters approve of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s handling of all COVID-19 related issues compared to 40% that disapprove.

In contrast nearly two-thirds of ALP supporters (64%) and Greens supporters (65%) disapprove of Morrison’s handling of all COVID-19 related issues compared to only 36% of ALP supporters and 35% of Greens supporters that approve.


Michele Levine CEO Roy Morgan, says as the COVID-19 vaccine progresses slowly around Australia – certainly slower than we were led to expect would be the case – an increasing majority of Australians say they are willing to be vaccinated:

Block Quote

“Despite substantial controversy over the COVID-19 vaccines in mid-April a majority of 83% of Australians are willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19, up 3% from 80% in mid-February. This includes 7% of Australians who are already vaccinated, a further 69% who say they are willing to get vaccinated and an additional 7% who are willing to get vaccinated if they can take the Pfizer vaccine. Only one-in-six Australians (17%) say they are not willing to be vaccinated.

“Despite the slower than expected rollout of COVID-19 vaccines the increasing support for being vaccinated is a positive sign that vaccine coverage will reach a large majority of the population when the vaccine rollout is completed – which may not be until early 2022 and current rates.

“Those keenest to receive a vaccine a are those most at risk from serious health complications from the virus with 90% of people aged 65+ willing to be vaccinated including 16% who have already been vaccinated and a further 74% willing to be vaccinated. Willingness to be vaccinated is also very high for those aged 50-64 while just under 80% of people aged under 50 say the same.

“The country is divided on Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s handling of all COVID-19 related issues with 51% disapproving and 49% approving. There is little difference between the two genders though there is a clear age-related difference with over three-fifths of people aged 65+ (62%) approving of Morrison’s handling of COVID-19 while only 39% of people aged under 35 approve.

“There is also a clear weakness for Morrison in Victoria – only 38% of Victorians approve of Morrison’s handling of COVID-19 while the Prime Minister enjoys a majority of approval in New South Wales (54%), Queensland (55%), Western Australia (51%) and election-bound Tasmania (52%).

“These results show that although Australia’s handling of COVID-19 in comparison to other countries overseas has been well recognized as one of the best, the slow rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines threatens to undermine this story.

“If other similar countries overseas return to a ‘post-COVID-normal’ with the return of international travel well before Australia does, the Government’s adept handling of the initial stages of the pandemic may be forgotten in the run-up to the next Federal Election expected early in 2022.”

Question 1:

Are you willing to be vaccinated for COVID-19 or not? Respondents who said “No” were then asked: If the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 became available would you be willing to be vaccinated?

By Gender & Age

Australians
18+

Gender

Age

Men

Women

Under 35

35-49

50-64

65+

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

Already vaccinated

7

6

9

5

5

6

16

Yes

69

73

64

68

66

72

68

Yes (with Pfizer)

7

5

8

6

8

7

6

TOTAL YES

83

84

81

79

79

85

90

No

17

16

19

21

21

15

10

TOTAL

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

Are you willing to be vaccinated for COVID-19 or not? Respondents who said “No” were then asked: If the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 became available would you be willing to be vaccinated?

By States & City/Country

Areas

States

Australians
18+

Capital
Cities

Country
Regions

NSW

VIC

QLD

WA

SA

TAS

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

Already vaccinated

7

8

6

7

8

8

7

7

12

Yes

69

71

66

68

72

64

71

67

73

Yes (with Pfizer)

7

6

7

9

5

7

4

4

3

TOTAL YES

83

85

79

84

85

79

82

78

88

No

17

15

21

16

15

21

18

22

12

TOTAL

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

Are you willing to be vaccinated for COVID-19 or not? Respondents who said “No” were then asked: If the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 became available would you be willing to be vaccinated?

By Party Vote (Federal)

Electors

Party Vote

L-NP

ALP

Greens

Ind/Others

Can’t say

%

%

%

%

%

%

Already vaccinated

6

6

6

3

7

6

Yes

69

72

63

73

63

79

Yes (with Pfizer)

7

9

9

3

6

3

TOTAL YES

82

87

78

79

76

88

No

18

13

22

21

24

12

TOTAL

100

100

100

100

100

100

Before Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines became publicly available in Australia in late February the following question was asked of Australians as part of this survey.

If a new Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine became publicly available, I would be willing to be vaccinated

By Gender & Age

Jan 14-15,
2021

Jan 20-21,
2021

Feb 12-13,
2021

%

%

%

Yes

77

79

80

No

23

21

20

TOTAL

100

100

100

This question was previously asked as part of an international survey in conjunction with Gallup International using a five-point scale in March 2020, April 2020 and again in November 2020: Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree, Don’t know.

If a new Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine became publicly available, I would be willing to be vaccinated

Australians 18+

Mar 28-29,
2020

Apr 4-5,
2020

Nov 12-17,

2020

%

%

%

TOTAL Agree

86

87

77

Strongly agree

56

56

41

Agree

30

31

36

Disagree

4

3

6

Strongly disagree

3

4

6

TOTAL Disagree

7

7

12

Don’t know

7

6

11

TOTAL

100

100

100

Question 2:

Thinking about Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s handling of all COVID-19 related issues. Do you approve or disapprove?

By Gender & Age

Australians
18+

Gender

Age

Men

Women

Under 35

35-49

50-64

65+

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

Approve

49

50

48

39

49

50

62

Disapprove

51

50

52

61

51

50

38

TOTAL

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

Thinking about Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s handling of all COVID-19 related issues. Do you approve or disapprove?

By States & City/Country

Areas

States

Australians
18+

Capital
Cities

Country
Regions

NSW

VIC

QLD

WA

SA

TAS

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

Approve

49

48

51

54

38

55

51

50

52

Disapprove

51

52

49

46

62

45

49

50

48

TOTAL

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

Thinking about Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s handling of all COVID-19 related issues. Do you approve or disapprove?

By Party Vote (Federal)

Electors

Party Vote

L-NP

ALP

Greens

Ind/Others

Can’t say

%

%

%

%

%

%

Approve

48

60

36

35

53

57

Disapprove

52

40

64

65

47

43

TOTAL

100

100

100

100

100

100

Margin of Error

The margin of error to be allowed for in any estimate depends mainly on the number of interviews on which it is based. Margin of error gives indications of the likely range within which estimates would be 95% likely to fall, expressed as the number of percentage points above or below the actual estimate. Allowance for design effects (such as stratification and weighting) should be made as appropriate.

Sample Size Percentage Estimate
40% – 60% 25% or 75% 10% or 90% 5% or 95%
1,000 ±3.0 ±2.7 ±1.9 ±1.3
5,000 ±1.4 ±1.2 ±0.8 ±0.6
7,500 ±1.1 ±1.0 ±0.7 ±0.5
10,000 ±1.0 ±0.9 ±0.6 ±0.4
20,000 ±0.7 ±0.6 ±0.4 ±0.3
50,000 ±0.4 ±0.4 ±0.3 ±0.2

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