One In Four Unvaccinated Boomers Are Waiting For A “Different Vaccine”

New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics suggests one in four unvaccinated people under 70 haven’t got the COVID jab yet, because they are waiting for a “different vaccine”.

This comes as frustrating news to young people who are still ineligible to get the jab recommended to them by the government’s vaccine expert panel, Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).

More specifically, the ABS says their survey found 35% — around one in three — of unvaccinated people in their 50s and 60s, and 26% — around one in four — of unvaccinated people in their 70s and older reported that “they want a different vaccine”. Almost half (48%) of these respondents were eligible for a COVID vaccine when surveyed.

At the time of the survey, Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the vaccine rollout were underway, meaning people aged 40 years and over, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 16 years and over, people with disability or an underlying medical condition, and a range of workers in specific roles were all eligible. People over 70 have been eligible to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine since mid-March.

Boomers: stupid young people making this pandemic worse 😤

Also Boomers: let me book 4 vaccine appointments and pick my preferred vaccine and cancel the rest last minute. That won’t slow things down

— Michael Whitford (@mwhitfo_9) April 18, 2021

While it is worth noting that there have, of course, been issues with supply and access that have prevented some eligible Australians from getting the shot, the idea that people are holding off their vaccination for their preferred vaccine is frustrating.

The ATAGI has stated specifically and repeatedly that it recommends Pfizer for people under 60, because of the incredibly rare chance of blood clotting that can come from AstraZeneca. Australia’s Pfizer supply has been limited but is apparently being fast-tracked.

“The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation recommends the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine (Comirnaty) as the preferred vaccine for those aged 16 to under 60 years,” reads ATAGI’s statement on the Australian Government’s Health website. This advice remains unchanged, even in the current COVID outbreak.

With limited Pfizer supplies, a COVID outbreak that’s sending major cities into lockdown, and trusted health advice that recommends certain vaccines for certain people… is anyone starting to feel like it’s the boomers who are entitled, not the millennials?

Do we need an ad urging ineligible young people to get vaccines that they’re already begging for, or do we need an ad for boomers over 60 who are “waiting” for Pfizer to hurry up and get their AZ?

— Ange McCormack (@_angemccormack) July 11, 2021

Boomers would have no problem with getting the vaccine if we told them they could order it extra hot

— Dave (@Mesut_Ausil) May 19, 2021