‘Lack of transparency’ undermining public confidence in COVID vaccine

Senator Rex Patrick says a lack of transparency has undermined public confidence in the Federal Government’s COVID vaccine rollout. Figures released last week revealed 29 per cent of Australians were unlikely or very unlikely to receive the jab while only 14 per cent of those polled said they were extremely likely to register for the vaccination. “There is vaccine hesitancy and it is caused, in part, because of a lack of information – people are concerned about it,” Senator Patrick told Sky News. “One of the things that is very apparent to me is we’ve taken a very different approach to the vaccine rollout. “With the COVID app…we were quite happy to advertise as an effective way of getting the community on board - there’s been a total absence in relation to the vaccine rollout. “The fundamental principle is that all of this vaccine response is being paid for by public money, it is for public purpose, and the starting position is everything should be open… and unfortunately, again, that has caused a lack of trust, a lack of confidence amongst the Australian public.” Pressure is mounting on the Morrison government to address concerns over public hesitancy with the introduction of vaccine passports touted as a possible incentive. However, Mr Patrick insisted a strong public advertising campaign should be preferred over a punitive approach. “I don’t like the idea of having a punitive approach to people who don’t have the vaccine,” he continued. “Again, if you take a more positive approach, simple things like advertising and informing people, I think we can bring the community along.”

from Breaking National News and Australian News | Daily Telegraph https://ift.tt/2QOpF37