Do Indonesians and Australians have the same reasons for their vaccine hesitancy?

Last year SBS Indonesian reported that some of Indonesia’s front-line health workers were hesitant to get vaccinated. Recently there has been similar hesitancy in Australia. But a study by Sharyn Graham Davies, Najmah and Kusman illustrates some interesting reasons why some Indonesians are not keen to get the vaccine.

There has been a recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Indonesia stretching health and social services to the limit. Source: Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images, 29 Jun 2021

Professor Sharyn Davies is Director of the Herb Feith Indonesian Engagement Centre at Monash University.  Talking to Sri Dean Prof Davies describes the research and explains four key reasons for peoples’ hesitancy.  What are the similarities and differences between Australia and Indonesia?

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Workers carry transport boxes of the Sinovac Biotech Ltd. COVID-19 vaccine in Bogor, Indonesia, 12 Jan 2021. Why are Indonesians wary of the Sinovac vaccine? Source: Photo by Adriana Adie–Nur/Getty Images, 12 Jan 2021