Radio host Kyle Sandilands has stated that he regrets promoting the COVID-19 vaccine, claiming he and other prominent media figures were "fooled" by the government. Sandilands, who in 2021 released a music video titled "Get Vax, Baby" encouraging vaccination, said he believed he was doing the right thing at the time.
"I admit I was wrong. I was fooled into promoting the Covid vaccine," Sandilands said. He maintained that he was not paid for his involvement in promoting the vaccine and was attempting to disseminate the message he was told was critical. Sandilands also questioned the government's communication, suggesting that the public was not fully informed about the possibility of vaccinated individuals contracting and transmitting the virus.
His comments echo those of broadcaster Karl Stefanovic, who also revealed regret for urging Australians to get vaccinated during the pandemic. Stefanovic, who appeared in Channel Nine's "This is Our Shot" campaign in 2021, expressed sorrow for not questioning government mandates more rigorously and for potentially alienating individuals. He suggested that media's role should have been educational rather than promotional.
Despite these sentiments, infectious diseases epidemiologist Meru Sheel from the University of Sydney emphasized the ongoing importance of vaccination. She estimated that COVID-19 causes thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations in Australia annually, and that vaccination remains a highly effective method for preventing severe illness and fatalities.