2026 national survey – adult influenza vaccination behavioural and social drivers Key findings summary As part of the National Vaccination Insights project, the University of Sydney Social and Behaviour Insights in Immunisation research group conducted a survey of 2,132 adults 18 years of age and older.The survey explored what factors influenced adults’ intention to receive the recommended influenza (flu) vaccine ahead of the 2026 flu season.Responses were compared with those from the 2024 and 2025 surveys. This 2026 key findings summary presents data on:the drivers of adult flu vaccination intention in 2026how these drivers changed across the 3 surveys conducted from 2024 to 2026.The 2026 survey on adult flu vaccination intention was funded through a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Fellowship (grant number: 2010212). The behavioural and social drivers of flu vaccination intention in 2026The researchers identified behavioural and social drivers that influenced the likelihood of adults wanting a flu vaccine in 2026. Comparing the behavioural and social drivers of flu vaccination intention across the 3 surveysThe behavioural and social drivers of vaccination intention were compared across the 3 surveys. Changes in the drivers of flu vaccination intention across the 3 surveysThere was a small but statistically significant decline in influenza vaccination intention across the 3 surveys. When researchers analysed this data by age group, they found the only statistically significant decline was within adults between 18 and 49 years of age. Drivers of flu vaccination intention from 2024 to 2026Three factors were consistently linked to people’s intention to get a flu vaccination across the overall adult population in 2024, 2025 and 2026. These were:confidence in vaccine benefitsfeeling a social responsibility to get vaccinatedthinking community leaders wanted people to get vaccinated.However, the influence of a sense of social responsibility has weakened over time.In 2024, people who felt a sense of social responsibility to get a flu vaccine were 4 times more likely to intend to get vaccinated than those who did not feel a social responsibility. This relationship became less pronounced in 2025 (3.3 times more likely) and 2026 (1.6 times more likely).Confidence in vaccine benefits was a stronger influence in 2025 and remained an important factor in 2026.Among people aged under 50 years of age, 3 additional factors were consistently linked to the intention to get a flu vaccination across the 3 surveys. These were:believing that vaccination offers personal protectionhaving family members who support vaccinationreceiving a recommendation to vaccinate from a health worker.There was also a notable change in the influence of community leaders between surveys.In 2024, adults under 50 who felt that community leaders wanted people to be vaccinated were actually less likely to intend to get vaccinated. However, this relationship reversed in 2025 and 2026, when people who perceived stronger support for vaccination from community leaders were more likely to intend to get vaccinated. Access 2026 survey pre-printRead the survey validation studyReturn to adult vaccination insights 133 views
