WASHINGTON — Much of the public harbors misperceptions about influenza and vaccination against it, according to data from a nationwide survey presented at a press briefing sponsored by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
The Public Perception of Influenza, Vaccination and Treatment Options Survey, randomly administered via telephone to more than 1,000 adults in all 50 states, found that only 48% of respondents said they planned to be immunized this year.
Reasons given by respondents for not seeking immunization included the belief that influenza is not a serious enough disease to warrant vaccination (43%), that they were personally not at risk for infection (38%), that they previously contracted the flu even after being vaccinated (23%), and that vaccination in a prior influenza season would offer protection against current infection (15%).
Of the entire study cohort, 46% of respondents believed influenza vaccine can cause influenza. In addition, 30% responded that getting the vaccine is not worthwhile because it protects against only three strains of influenza, and many said that vaccination in December or later was too late to be effective.
These findings underscore the need for physicians to recommend vaccination to their patients, said Dr. Susan J. Rehm, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. A direct recommendation from a health care provider “was one of the major drivers for individuals getting influenza vaccine,” she said.
“The medical community must also reinforce the public health benefits of vaccination in the later season,” Dr. Rehm said, “by educating patients throughout the winter months… about the benefits of the vaccine, even if disease has already begun to be seen in their area.”
Also of concern was that only 49% of respondents knew that annual influenza vaccination is recommended for pregnant women and only 68% knew about the CDC's recently expanded recommendation for influenza vaccination in all children aged 6 months to 5 years.