One half have gotten, are planning to get flu shot

Transcription

1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE One half have gotten, are planning to get flu shot One half will not JANUARY 18 th, 2013 In a random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll among 1779 Canadians 18 years of age and older, just fewer than 4 in 10 had already received flu shots this season (39%) while a further one tenth were planning to get one (11%) for a total of one half who are or will be inoculated (50%). In turn, one half say they are not planning to get a flu shot (49%). Incidence of not planning to get vaccinated is highest among the youngest (62%) and lowest among the oldest (26%). Incidence of not wanting an inoculation is higher in Quebec (56%), among Francophones (55%) and those with no kids (54%). Incidence of having already been vaccinated is highest among the oldest (68%). Most have had, will have shot at doctor's office More than a third had their shot, or will have it, at a doctor's office (35%), while fewer than a quarter will go to a pharmacy (22%) or a free standing flu shot clinic (23%). About a tenth got their shot, or will get it, at work or school (9%) or somewhere else (7%). Usage of a doctor is especially common to the oldest (46%) in Atlantic Canada (54%) and Ontario (47%). Getting the shot at a pharmacy is popular among the wealthiest ($100K to $250K 27%) in Ontario (28%), Alberta and BC (32% each). The youngest are most likely to have gone or plan to go to a free standing flu shot clinic (33%), as are Quebeckers (51%) and those in the prairies (41%). While those who have already received their shot are most likely to have visited a doctor (38%), those who are in the planning stages are equally likely to consider the doctor (23%), a pharmacy (20%) or a free standing clinic (22%). Mistrust of vaccines, invincibility main reasons for not getting flu shot Among the one half our sample who are not planning to be inoculated, the main reasons, cited by more than a third each, are a mistrust of vaccines (36%) and a sense that the respondent doesn't get sick (35%). Very few say vaccine is unavailable (3%), that wait times make it too time consuming (4%) or because of inconvenience (5%). Close to one fifth cite other reasons (17%). Mistrust of vaccines is especially common among the mid aged (45 to 54 41%), the less wealthy ($20K to $40K 44%), in Ontario (44%) and among the less well educated (40% and 41%, secondary school and some college). Invulnerability to flu is most strongly felt among the wealthier ($60K to $80K 48%) and the wealthiest ($100K to $250K 48%) and among university grads (41%). Lack of vaccine is a special problem for the less wealthy (14%) and those in BC (14%). Long wait times are a problem unique to the prairies (9%) and Alberta (10%). 1 MEDIA INQUIRIES: lbozinoff@ HIGHLIGHTS: Just fewer than 4 in 10 had already received flu shots this season (39%) while a further one tenth were planning to get one (11%) for a total of one half who are or will be inoculated (50%). More than a third had their shot, or will have it, at a doctor's office (35%), while fewer than a quarter will go to a pharmacy (22%) or a free standing flu shot clinic (23%). Among the one half our sample who are not planning to be inoculated, the main reasons, cited by more than a third each, are a mistrust of vaccines (36%) and a sense that the respondent doesn't get sick (35%).

2 It's surprising to see that fully half the country won't take the easy and considerate step of getting a flu vaccine, which as we can see from these findings, can be done very conveniently almost anywhere. It is more surprising to see that fully a third of those who won't get a shot, or almost a fifth of the adult population, make this choice because they think vaccines are dangerous. This is an unusually high level of misinformation," said Forum Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff. Lorne Bozinoff, Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at lbozinoff@ or at (416) HIGHLIGHTS: It's surprising to see that fully half the country won't take the easy and considerate step of getting a flu vaccine, which as we can see from these findings, can be done very conveniently almost anywhere. It is more surprising to see that fully a third of those who won't get a shot, or almost a fifth of the adult population, make this choice because they think vaccines are dangerous. This is a unusually high level of misinformation," said Forum Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff 2

3 Methodology The Forum Poll was conducted by Forum Research with the results based on an interactive voice response telephone survey of 1779 randomly selected Canadians 18 years of age and older. The poll was conducted on January th, Results based on the total sample are considered accurate +/ 2%, 19 times out of 20. Subsample results will be less accurate. Margins of error for subsample (such as age, gender) results are available at Where appropriate, the data has been statistically weighted by age, region, and other variables to ensure that the sample reflects the actual population according to the latest Census data. This research is not necessarily predictive of future outcomes, but rather, captures opinion at one point in time. Forum Research conducted this poll as a public service and to demonstrate our survey research capabilities. With offices across Canada and around the world, 100% Canadian owned Forum Research is one of the country s leading survey research firms. This Forum Poll and other polls may be found at Forum's poll archive at 3

4 Got a Flu Shot Have you gotten a flu shot or are you planning to get a flu shot this season? [All Respondents] Age / Gender / Children Male Female Yes No Sample Gotten a flu shot already Planning to get a flu shot Not planning to get a flu shot Region / Language Atl Que ON Man/Sask AB BC English French Sample Gotten a flu shot already Planning to get a flu shot Not planning to get a flu shot Household Income <$20K $20 $40 $60 $80 $100 $40K $60K $80K $100K $250K $250K+ Sample Gotten a flu shot already Planning to get a flu shot Not planning to get a flu shot Federal Vote Preference Cons Lib NDP Green Bloc Other Parties Sample Gotten a flu shot already Planning to get a flu shot Not planning to get a flu shot

5 Highest Level of Education Secondary school or less Some college or university Completed college or university Post graduate studies Sample Gotten a flu shot already Planning to get a flu shot Not planning to get a flu shot

6 Where to get Flu Shot Where did you get this shot or where did you plan to get it? [Have gotten or planning to get a flu shot] Age / Gender / Children Male Female Yes No Sample Doctor's office Pharmacy Free standing flu shot clinic School or work Somewhere else Don't know Region / Language Atl Que ON Man/Sask AB BC English French Sample Doctor's office Pharmacy Free standing flu shot clinic School or work Somewhere else Don't know Household Income <$20K $20 $40 $60 $80 $100 $40K $60K $80K $100K $250K $250K+ Sample Doctor's office Pharmacy Free standing flu shot clinic School or work Somewhere else Don't know

7 Federal Vote Preference Cons Lib NDP Green Bloc Other Parties Sample Doctor's office Pharmacy Free standing flu shot clinic School or work Somewhere else Don't know Highest Level of Education Secondary school or less Some college or university Completed college or university Post graduate studies Sample Doctor's office Pharmacy Free standing flu shot clinic School or work Somewhere else Don't know Have got / Will get Flu Shot % TOTAL Gotten a flu shot already Planning to get a flu shot TOTAL Doctor's office Pharmacy Free standing flu shot clinic School or work Somewhere else Don't know

8 Reason for not getting a Flu Shot Why are you not planning to get a flu shot this season? [Not planning to get a flu shot] Age / Gender / Children Male Female Yes No Sample Don't trust vaccines Don't get sick often Not easily available where I live Too time consuming because of long waiting lines Not convenient Some other reason Region / Language Atl Que ON Man/Sask AB BC English French Sample Don't trust vaccines Don't get sick often Not easily available where I live Too time consuming because of long waiting lines Not convenient Some other reason

9 Household Income <$20K $20 $40 $60 $80 $100 $40K $60K $80K $100K $250K $250K+ Sample Don't trust vaccines Don't get sick often Not easily available where I live Too time consuming because of long waiting lines Not convenient Some other reason MEDIA INQUIRIES: lbozinoff@ Federal Vote Preference Cons Lib NDP Green Bloc Other Parties Sample Don't trust vaccines Don't get sick often Not easily available where I live Too time consuming because of long waiting lines Not convenient Some other reason Highest Level of Education 9 Secondary school or less Some college or university Completed college or university Post graduate studies Sample Don't trust vaccines Don't get sick often Not easily available where I live Too time consuming because of long waiting lines Not convenient Some other reason For more information: Lorne Bozinoff, Ph.D. President Forum Research Inc. Tel: (416) Fax: (416) E mail: lbozinoff@