Australians say health workers should get COVID jab first

Australians say frontline healthcare workers and aged and disability carers should be the first to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, according to new research from The Australian National University (ANU). The survey of more than 3,000 Australians used an experimental approach to identify who Australians think should be the first groups to receive an effective vaccine once developed. Paramedics topped the list, followed by aged and disabled carers, registered nurses, nursing support workers and general practitioners. Primary school teachers were the next highest group of professionals Australians said should be among the first to receive a COVID vaccine. Childcare workers also make the top 10. Report co-author Professor Nicholas Biddle, from the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods, said the study was the first test of the relative weight Australians put on different individuals' characteristics in terms of who should receive a vaccine. The survey also examined how respondents' characteristics influenced their decisions.