Targeting 'fence-sitters' key to improving Queensland's COVID-19 vaccination rates before state opens up

The Queensland government needs to do more to target "fence-sitters" and smarter, stronger marketing strategies are needed to boost vaccination uptake and get the state over the finish line before borders reopen, experts warn. Key points: A consumer behaviour expert said there's always a part of the population that is hard to get to modify their behaviours Peer-to-peer promotion could be an effective way to get young people vaccinated An expert on vaccine hesitancy said as many barriers as possible must be removed to make the jab accessible to Queenslanders While Australia has reached the 80 per cent full vaccination target of those over 16, Queensland is still playing catch-up. "Peer-to-peer promotion is a really key way to get young people vaccinated," Dr Parkinson said. Jab must be accessible, convenient University of Queensland academic Tom Aechtner, a leading expert on vaccine hesitancy, said as "many barriers as possible" must be removed to make the jab accessible for all Queenslanders. Dr Aechtner said the limited impact of COVID outbreaks and "no immediate motivation" were the main contributors to Queensland's sluggish vaccine rates, particularly in regional areas.