University of Texas/Zogby Poll: Just 36% of Adults Get Annual Flu Vaccine
Only 18% thinks swine flu threat severe. Vast majority of adults sticking with travel plans, dining out, split over closing border with Mexico...
UTICA, New York - Just 36% of adults polled say they received an influenza vaccine for the current flu season, and only 30% say they would get a special vaccine for the swine flu if one was made available, according to the latest University of Texas/Zogby International poll. A dozen reasons for not getting the vaccination were listed but the main reason, cited by 41% of adults, is they did not think it was necessary, despite CDC recommendations that all but infants and those with a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome, or allergies to eggs, be vaccinated. A surprising 38% are unvaccinated, not practicing good hygiene, and not restricting travel or mall shopping. This group tends to be male, younger, single, and less inclined to abide by quarantine. The same was true of 25% of health care workers polled, 28% of caregivers in nursing homes and 33% of those whose children are vulnerable due to asthma, diabetes, or HIV. Particularly concerning is that only 48% of these children were vaccinated. Self-described liberals (47%) are more likely than conservatives (30%) to say they have gotten the flu vaccine. Whites (38%) and Hispanics (36%) are more likely than African Americans (28%) to say they have received the shot, and born again Christians (29%) are much less likely to say they received the vaccine compared to Christians who are not born again (43%). Those who are married (37%) are more likely than singles (28%) to say they have been vaccinated against the flu, as are college educated respondents (42%) compared to those who are not (31%). Just 18% of respondents nationwide rate the swine flu as being a severe threat in a new University of Texas/Zogby International poll, and the vast majority (97%) say they have not cut back on travel plans because of the outbreak. Moreover, 96% say they have not cut back on going to restaurants or malls because of the swine flu. If rationing of scarce vaccine or antiviral medications were necessary, 47% of adult put first-responders (doctors, nurses, EMTs, military, etc) ahead of seniors, kids, and the sick, but most African-Americans, Hispanics and Democrats put seniors and children first. A third of cardiovascular patients still do not get vaccinated, a marginal improvement over a decade ago. Only 26% of these patients know that Tamiflu reduces mortality and twenty-five percent of these patients take Motrin, Advil, or similar drugs if they get flu, apparently unaware that these medicines block the clot-preventing benefit of aspirin. Respondents were asked to rate the swine flu threat on a scale of 1 to 10, with one being not at all severe and 10 being the most severe. Answers of one to four were grouped into being "not severe" and responses of six to 10 were grouped as "severe." Eighteen percent overall rated the swine flu threat as severe. While few have changed their daily habits because of the swine flu outbreak, respondents are split in their confidence of the government's ability to handle the potential crisis, with 40% saying they are confident and 35% saying they are not. Respondents are also split over whether or not the U.S. should close the border with Mexico, 41% say only if the situation worsens and is warranted, and 30% say right now. Twenty-one percent say the border with Mexico should never be closed. Even though response is split on whether or not the public thinks the government can handle the problem, most (58%) say they would be willing to go into voluntary quarantine if asked, and 52% say they think it is ethical to place subjects, including themselves, into a mandatory quarantine. The majority of respondents (83%) say they do not think the swine flu outbreak is the result of bioterrorism. "Public health authorities handled the H1N1 crisis well", said Dr Ward Casscells, the John Edward Tyson Distinguished Professor in Cardiology at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and a Senior Scholar and Special Advisor to the President, Texas Heart Institute. "The charge that they over-reacted, or caused panic, is nonsense. The greater danger is complacency. People know the symptoms of flu, but most do not realize vaccination, treatment, and hygiene save lives. A new strategy is needed to educate and motivate the skeptical, cavalier, and defiant 'Killer Karls'." The online survey of 1,442 adults was conducted May 4-6, 2009, and carries a margin of error of +/-2.6 percentage points. For a complete methodological statement on this survey, please visit: http://www.zogby.com/methodology/readmeth.cfm?ID=1398 For media inquiries, contact: S. Ward Cassells, III, M.D., is the John Edward Tyson Distinguished Professor in Cardiology at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and a Senior Scholar and Special Advisor to the President, Texas Heart Institute. Dr. Casscells is the former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. He can be reached at 832-628-2710 Leann Atkinson, Zogby International 315.624.0200 x 241 or Leann@zogby.com (5/13/2009)