Many Americans unconcerned about swine flu, survey finds
Another survey out of Ann Arbor shows large numbers of Americans aren't concerned about the swine flu virus, despite public health warnings.
In a survey, Thomson Reuters found one-third of Americans said they're concerned about novel H1N1 flu virus. One-third reported being unconcerned about the flu virus and one-third said they were only somewhat concerned, the survey of about 3,000 households found.
Those with lower incomes and less education were more likely to be more concerned about the flu virus.
The survey found about 36 percent of households planned to be vaccinated against the novel H1N1 flu virus - compared to 47 percent who said they would not.
"It appears that people with more education believe that steps being taken will prevent an outbreak," Gary Pickens, chief research officer for the Healthcare & Science business of Thomson Reuters, said in a release.
The Thomson Reuters survey also found those most likely to get the flu shots were older than 65.
A recent C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health found fewer than half of parents planned to have their children vaccinated.
About half of parents in that poll indicated they believe the H1N1 flu virus and the seasonal flu pose about the same risk to their children. Experts have said the H1N1 flu poses greater risk than the seasonal flu becuase rates of illness and hospitalizations have disproportionately affected children than other age groups.
Comments
WRTurner
Sun, Oct 25, 2009 : 9:01 a.m.
"It appears that people with more education believe that steps being taken will prevent an outbreak." Are you kidding me?! Only a total idiot would believe that. On the other hand, there are plenty of people with high IQs that don't have a lick of sense so I could believe it, but I think this guy's just off the mark. If anything, educated people know that there's only so much you can do with an outbreak and since this one is not terribly deadly, aren't going to spend much time worrying about it. This doesn't require a lot of education, but it does require a touch of common sense. Not to take this illness lightly, but to stress out over it (as is usually the case about stressing out over most things) doesn't help and just adds weight to one's shoulders. Just add H1N1 to the long list of things that can getcha in life. I'm going to die some day, I'm not going to dwell on all the things that can help that along.
Tina Reed
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 4:37 p.m.
A link previously used in this story has been fixed. One survey from the National Poll on Children's Health did find that the vast majority of adults do believe health workers should get the H1N1 flu vaccination. Here's the link: http://www.med.umich.edu/mott/npch/reports/flushot.htm. The previous survey from the National Poll on Children's Health found fewer than half of adults planned to have their children vaccinated.
Rork Kuick
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 2:05 p.m.
The Mott Poll link is the same as the Reuters link. Maybe something like http://www.med.umich.edu/mott/npch/ was desired, but that might not be the poll intended. The Mott poll I point to found 87% of adults either strongly agree or agree with requiring H1N1 vaccination for health care workers, seemingly at odds with the Reuters result, if I presume rational actors. Yes, laugh if you want. Maybe a person "A" wants others to get the vaccine, thereby providing added protection for "A" and the community, but would rather forgo it personally since they fear some risks (they've been on the web, where it's hard to tell what is satire or not on this subject) - and find no ethical problem with that.
dading dont delete me bro
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 11:45 a.m.
mmmmmmmmmm........bacon.........
xmo
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 11:35 a.m.
I guess nobody believes the news any more where everything is a crisis.