Mediaboss Marketing

Experts say a range of factors are at play as towhy the cities of Logan and Ipswich have among the worst vaccination rates in the country, and policymakers need to address that to turn it around.

New data released by the federal government shows 28.5 per cent of eligible people in the Logan-Beaudesert area, south of Brisbane,have had their first dose of the vaccine, while13.2 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Ipswich, west of Brisbane, has seen 31.8 per cent of those eligible get their first dose and 15.7 per cent get both jabs.

The highest rate in Queensland is Brisbane West, with 46.2 per cent receiving their first dose and 24.5 per cent getting fully vaccinated.

The data breaks down the first and second dose rates for eligible people aged 15 years old and over, indifferent geographical areas of every state and territory up toAugust 1.

Ipswich resident Neville Olbitzky said the low rates in his city did not surprise him.

"I did struggle [to book in], if it would have been simpler, walk-in, I would have had it a long time ago," he said.

The 65-year-old tried to walk in at the vaccination hub in the citybut was redirected to book online.

"Just kept saying to me 'go online', that's all I got, 'you've got to do it online', end of story, and because of that I just didn't bother," he said.

"I think people my age just do find it hard.

"It just turns you off all the hassle you've got to go through."

After multiple attempts to navigate the online booking system, he is booked in for his first dose next week.

But he said the process should be smoother to get more of the community vaccinated.

"It is frustrating, there's got to be a simpler way and I reckon you'd have a lot more people vaccinated," he said.

AP: Frank Augstein/Pool

Queensland University of Technology's Professor in social marketing,Ross Gordon, said there were multiple reasons to explain why Logan and Ipswich had lower rates.

"They're known as being lower socioeconomic status areas, soyou tend to have people with lower levels of education and from that lower levels of health literacy," he said.

"Other factors, as well, you've got higher populations of culturally and linguistically diverse people, and also the age of the population there you've got younger people living there."

He said that could all be linked to vaccine hesitancy.

ABC News: Chris Gillette

"Among culturally and linguistically diverse populations, there's an issue with communication and trust as well, so trying to address these issues is going to be key," he said.

"Among young people, we haven't really been thinking a lot or working a lot with young people through the pandemic so far in Australia.

"A lot of the focus has been on protecting older people so we've not really done the workto actually engage young people yet."

Dr Gordon said there was a difference between vaccine hesitancy and anti-vaccination beliefs.

"A lot of vaccine-hesitant people need a little bit of support and encouragement and reassurance and making it easier for them to get over the line," he said.

He said one way to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates would be through a more personal, community-orientated marketing strategy.

Health officials say younger peoplecanconsult with theirdoctor about getting the AstraZeneca vaccine. Here's what your GP will ask you

"Our strategy in Australia so far has been everything's come from government and health departments. We have to recognise that while a lot of the population trusts these sources there are some members of our community that don't," he said.

"That's where I want to see a more active role of community leaders in places like Ipswich and Logan.

"Putting those sort of people out the front of campaigns and communication and even featuring community members in vaccine campaigns brochures and social media.

"When people see another member of the community and those sorts of communications they're much more likely to trust them, because they know them, they represent them."

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said she was working with regions with lower COVID-19 vaccination rates to see what could be done to improve them.

We offer tailored front pages for local audiences in each state and territory. Find out how to opt in for more Queensland news.

"We need everyone vaccinated at that high level, to open up the whole of Queensland," she said.

"We do a lot of consumer advocacy to reach out and see why it is that we have vaccine hesitancy, or why we're not coming forward.

"We need to break down the data as to whether it's AstraZeneca or Pfizer, the age groups, we have seen pretty consistent numbers across the state in Pfizer and [AstraZeneca] but we want to have a look at those numbers a little bit closer."

Ms D'Ath said the state government would look at language and engagement within multicultural communities.

"So we want to do that not just in testing and messaging around staying home but about vaccination," she said.

"We'll continue to work with all sectors of the community and to get that message out."

Loading form...

Breaking down the latest news and research to understand how the world is living through an epidemic, this is the ABC's Coronacast podcast.

Read the original post:
Ipswich and Logan have some of the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates in Australia. What's behind the slow take-up? - ABC News