It's been over a year now since the coronavirus, aka COVID-19, became an unwanted household name across the world.
In fact, one year ago today (almost), on 20 February 2020, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was still humming along, closing for an all-time high of 7,162 points. In the panicky weeks that followed as the pandemic and lockdowns spread, the ASX 200 plunged more than 36%.
Since bottoming out on 23 March, the index of the top 200 listed Australian companies is up 49%. It's now only 5% off the record highs from last February.
Part of that resurgence came due to the extraordinary, coordinated efforts of global central banks and developed nations' governments. Governments have pumped trillions of dollars into economic stimulus packages. And central banks have ramped up their quantitative easing (QE) programs to record levels while slashing interest rates close to or even below zero.
Share markets – and indeed the wider global mood – received another big lift in November. That came with the announcements of numerous effective vaccines against the virus, which has now claimed almost 2.5 million victims. There have been more than 900 deaths in Australia.
With the vaccine rollout about to launch down under, we turn to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to gather how many Aussies are planning to get the jab.
What the ABS survey revealed about Australians' COVID vaccine intentions
According to data released by the ABS today, 73% of Australians agreed or strongly agreed they would get a COVID-19 vaccine if it became available and was recommended for them.
The Household Impacts of COVID-19 Survey was conducted from 11 to 18 December.
Older people and men were more likely than younger Australians and women to strongly agree that they'd get the vaccine. 76% of men agreed compared to 71% of women, while 83% of Aussies over 65 years old agreed compared to 71% in the 18–64 bracket.
If you have a hard time putting COVID-19 out of your mind, the survey also revealed you're not alone.
The December survey showed that COVID-19 was still prominent in many people's minds.
According to ABS Head of Household Surveys, David Zago:
92 per cent of Australians thought about COVID-19 at least once in the last week, with over half (52 per cent) reporting they were thinking about COVID-19 at least once a day. The survey reported a further three in five people (59 per cent) actively sought information on COVID-19, and just over one in four (28 per cent) reported feeling overwhelmed because of COVID-19 at least once in the last week.
More respondents felt they personally understood and followed their state or territory's recommendations and restrictions to help prevent the coronavirus' spread than other people did.
84% reported their understanding was good or very good, and 95% said they were following them closely.
Regarding their fellow Aussies, 52% said they thought others understood and followed restrictions and 78% believed other people were following recommendations and restrictions closely.
