As the COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne has spurred a surge in vaccinations, the issue of vaccine hesitancy continues to grab headlines, especially relating to fears of the possible side effects of getting the jab.
SBS Arabic24 devised a survey in May that gathered the responses of 495 Arabic-speaking members of the Australian community about taking the vaccine and reasons why they wouldn't.
It showed that 74 per cent expressed a willingness to take a vaccine, with 43 per cent indicating they would "definitely" get the jab, while 31 per cent saying they would "probably" do so.
While the combined statistic is conclusive, the figure for the definite category is 11 per cent lower than the results of an Australian National University survey in May which found that 54.7 per cent of Australians would definitely get a "safe and effective vaccine", while 28.2 per cent probably would.
Australian Medical Association President Dr Omar Khorshid says the fact that 74 per cent of the Arabic-speaking respondents are willing to get vaccinated is "a positive", though he believes more needs to be done to get the rest of this community "across the line”.
“Hundreds of millions of doses of the vaccines that we are using have been administered in countries all over the world," he says.
They are incredibly safe, effective and the side effects are generally mild.
Melbourne man Fadi Masarweh, 33, is one of the respondents who indicated he would definitely take the vaccine.
“I’m willing to get vaccinated for my personal protection and for the protection of others," he says.
"Also, reopening the borders is everyone’s end goal.”
Only six per cent of respondents indicated they are unwilling to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Aware of the possible side effects, Yasser Kalta, 43, says he "strongly refuses" to get the jab.
“I’m concerned about the blood-clotting risk associated with the vaccines currently available in Australia. We hear in the news about people who fall sick because of the AstraZeneca vaccine.”
Mr Kalta, who moved to Australia from Egypt 14 years ago, says his family members have "similar concerns".
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Religion not a contributor, but vaccine type is
The Arabic24 survey found that those who had already been vaccinated stood at six per cent, compared to 9.3 per cent in the ANU survey which indicated that they had received at least one dose of the vaccine.
The Arabic24 survey showed a considerable level of satisfaction with the performance of federal and state governments in providing clear and credible information about the COVID-19 vaccine types.
Eighteen per cent of respondents described the role of the federal government as "very effective", while 48 per cent found it "effective".
The statistics for state governments were comparable, with 20 per cent choosing "very effective" and 47 per cent selecting "effective".
Furthermore, 32 per cent said they relied on social media for information about the vaccine.
Mr Kalta, who works as a security guard, says he found it hard to access specialised information about the vaccine.
“I don’t know where to get the scientific information from.
"I depend mainly on online news that reports the side effects of vaccination.”
Although the majority of respondents chose to identify with a religion - 56 per cent with Islam and 34 per cent with Christianity - religious reasons were not a major factor for respondents who felt hesitant about taking the vaccine.
Rita Raad, 44, is one of three per cent of respondents who said they would not get vaccinated for religious reasons.
The respondents' answers to a question about their reasons behind vaccine hesitancy. Source: SBS Arabic
“The vaccine contains aborted foetal cells. This is the biggest sin," she says.
A Lebanese Christian, Ms Raad says she is not likely to change her mind about the vaccine and that she discourages her family from taking it.
In the ANU study, the most commonly cited reason for vaccine hesitancy was concern about possible side effects, at 63.3 per cent.
Similar sentiments were reflected in the Arabic24 survey, where 27 per cent of respondents expressed a comparable concern about the vaccine side effects while 30 per cent said they did not trust the available vaccines.
Rita Raad is one of three per cent of respondents who said they would not get vaccinated for religious reasons. Source: SBS Arabic
Pfizer vs AstraZeneca.. can we pay for one?
The outcome of the survey that targeted the Arabic-speaking community showed that respondents had strong preferences about vaccine types.
Only 14 per cent of respondents said they preferred to take the AstraZeneca vaccine, compared to 62 per cent of respondents who cited Pfizer.
Despite indicating his willingness to get the jab as “definitely no”, Mr Kalta says the availability of the Pfizer vaccine may be a "gamechanger".
“I’ll change my mind 100 per cent if the Pfizer vaccine is available. I’d definitely get vaccinated.”
More than 52 per cent said they were willing to pay to take their preferred vaccine.
The respondents' vaccine preferences. Source: SBS Arabic
Dr Khorshid says GPs are seeing a trend where patients are seeking more information about the exact differences between the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines, but he believes “real-world experience” shows that “both are similarly effective”.
“With winter approaching, people should not hesitate to get vaccinated if they are eligible. COVID-19 remains an ever-present risk and we know that CALD communities are particularly vulnerable when outbreaks occur.”
Concerned about the side effects of the vaccines available, Alaa Zawawa, 35, says she's willing to pay a "reasonable amount of money" to receive the Pfizer jab.
“If I can get my preferred vaccine for an extra payment, I’m willing to do it even if the other types are available for free.”
Note: The Arabic24 survey was live for seven days from May 4 to 11, before the Melbourne lockdown.
