Washington (CNN) – More than half of all adult Americans say they don't want to get the H1N1 flu vaccine, according to a new national poll.
The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Wednesday also indicates that the number of adults who have tried to get the vaccine but were turned away is higher than the number of adults who have gotten a swine flu shot.
CNN Radio: CNN Polling Director Keating Holland breaks down the results
According to the poll, 55 percent of adults don't want to get the swine flu vaccine, and don't plan to get a shot. Another one in five say they want to get inoculated but haven't taken any steps to do so, 14 percent want a shot and have tried to get it but have been unsuccessful. Just 7 percent have been inoculated for H1N1.
Why are more than half of all Americans shunning the vaccine?
"The perception that the vaccine has dangerous side effects is the top reason," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Roughly half of those who don't want a swine flu shot say that the possibility of side effects is one reason why they don't plan to get the vaccine. That works out to 28 percent of the adult population who don't plan to get inoculated due to the risk of dangerous side effects."
So far officials of the National Institutes of Health say that in clinical trials they've seen no serious side effects and that study subjects who have been immunized have generated a good response.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the vaccine for certain high-priority groups because they are more likely to have serious complications if they develop swine flu. These groups include: pregnant women; caregivers and household contacts of children younger than 6 months; everyone between the ages of 6 months and 24 years; and people ages 25 to 64 with existing health problems.
One in four American adults say they don't plan on getting a shot because they are not in a high-risk group, with 21 percent indicating they don't plan on getting vaccinated because they only go to a doctor when they are sick. Most of those respondents are men.
What about the 14 percent who have unsuccessfully tried to get the vaccine?
"Some say they don't know where to go - that works out to 4 percent of the total adult population who want to get inoculated but haven't been able to locate a medical facility that is giving swine flu shots," adds Holland. "A bigger group, 5 percent of the total population, say that they found a facility with the vaccine were turned away because they were not in a high-risk group or for some other reason. And 3 percent of all adults say they found a facility that had the vaccine but it ran out before they got there."
Add together those last two groups, and the number of Americans who actively sought the vaccine but were turned away for some reason is 8 percent of the total adult population, roughly the same number as the 7 percent who have been inoculated so far.
The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll was conducted November 13-15, with 1,014 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
–CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser and Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen contributed to this report
Follow Paul Steinhauser on Twitter: @psteinhausercnn
From CNN Politics
© 2011 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Contact us | Work for us | Help
Um, so more for me? Really, by the time it's available in large enough supply to significantly diminish the spread of the disease, it will be the next flu season. By then, it'll be part of the seasonal shot, anyway. Of course, hardly anyone gets that, either.
By the time the shot is available to the general public, flu season will be over.
Of course, getting or not getting a flu shot is a personal choice.
The only vaccine (shot) I would get, if it ever became available, would be a shot against smallpox. Swine flu is "small potatoes" compared to a terrifying smallpox outbreak.
The flu shot was invented by the narcisstic obamabots in there secret lab at ACORN headquarters! Don't get the shot because if you do you'll turn into an obamabot too!!! Or maybe even an Oprah watching socialist union thug!!! If someone tries to give you or your grandbabies a shot, ask to see there birth certificate. If they can't produce one guess what? Their really an obamabot!!!!!!! Run from them if you want to stay a real American. Have a nice day!
NOT necessary!!! The shot probably won't do you any good!! I got it from my grandson – got rid of it – YOU MUST take a full 5 days of bed rest and plenty of fluids!!!!!
DO NOT go outside too soon... After 3 days you begin to feel better and then you get a COUGH!!! Cough up the CRAP and after a couple of days – be on YOUR MERRY WAY!!
The FLU SHOT was not avaialbe to us anyway – I NEVER – nor my kids and grandkids – took a flu shot in our lives!!!
I agree. I'm almost 40 and feel healthy enough that I can forego my shot so that someone else in a more 'deserving' category can get it. Also, I'm a vegan-vegetarian who does not eat eggs. The current vaccine is produced with chicken eggs. I therefore have a moral complication with accepting this vaccine. I'll have to just deal with the flu this year like any other year.
On another note, I think that it would be a worthwhile pursuit to 'promote the general welfare' by funding multiple NIH sponsored investigations to move the nation from the current vaccine production procedures with eggs onto a new technology that would not have to rely on this older and outdated method of vaccine production. With 310 million US citizens and multiple dependencies and allies throughout the world, we need a vaccine production method that can mass produce in a faster manner. This will take time and good scientific investigation, but this should be done.
I got the H1N1 flu, and if I had the chance, I would most certainly get the vaccine. I was out sick for 12 days, used all of my sick days and will loose pay if I get sick again. I don't ever remember being as ill as I was during that time. This is not just the same ol' same ol' flu for everybody. True, some don't get very sick, but this flu has the potential to be devastating. I don't understand why anyone would not want to protect themselves, their co-workers and their families.
Pelosi and crew are going to give us National Health Care (or at least insurance reform, yet can't even administer shots to much more than 10% of the nation. This is not a very rosy precursor of things to come if this health care business is finally passed.
I heard an expert from the CDC about 6 months ago say that H1N1 was very similiar to a bad strain of flu that was going around in 1957.
I was 8 years old at the time and remember being very sick with the flu. I would bet money I have natural immunities. I would also bet a good majority of my generation does, so why do we need the shot now?
I have also read that in the U.S. there has only been 3,000 deaths. That is very sad, especially when most were young people, but it's hardly an epidemic, pandemic whatever! There are 307 million people in this country! 3,000 is way less than 1% of the population.
I work with over 300 people and I don't know one that has been out of work because of the flu.
I think it's another media overexaggeration! Then they have the nerve to lambast President Obama with "where's the rest of the vaccine?" And now they are lambasting the dems because it wasn't the pandemic people thought it was going to be and saying things like "oh, he wasted millions of our tax dollars on unneeded shots!"
I am so sick of the criticism towards our President when he's doing the best he can!
Most of the people not getting an H1N1 shot are probably the same people who don't get a seasonal flu shot. Many of us believe the human body contains an immune system which we evolved to fight off disease, and rather than introduce harmful toxins (that's exactly what a vaccine adjuvant is – its the intended purpose, to be toxic and elicit an immune response to make the vaccine effective), we're willing to take the chance that we might get the flu, and in almost all cases, that means a couple days off work feeling crappy.
To me, a polio or smallpox vaccine makes sense, but for a rapidly mutating virus such as the influenza virus, its just a bad idea. I don't need heavy metals or squalene injected into my body to reduce my chances of getting the sniffles and maybe vomiting a couple times. Our society is way too obsessed with medicating everything for the sake of perceived convenience, at great cost to those of us who know how to live healthy lives (increased insurance rates, etc.).
Well that's good considering there isn't enough of it for everyone anyway. Welcome to your preview of Obama care. Enjoy the rationing.
I am one of those people that don't plan to get the H1N1 shot but not for any of those reasons. You state that the people are "shunning" the shot like there is some big conspiracy to it, which is simply foolish.
I work from home, have very little interaction with the populace at large and don't like putting even dead diseases into my body if it's not really necessary. Besides, my decision leaves one more dose available for someone that really needs the protection.
Please don' t make so many out to be the fear mongering goofballs that are running amok right now.
Flu bait...
Ignorance is the flavor of the day.
Interesting, after all that Dr. Gupta has raved and encouraged anyone short of pre-natal infants to have H1N1 injections, the vast majority tell him Hell No!
After Dr. Gupta publicly stated there was no connection between the millions of Guillain–Barre syndrome victims that suddenly had that disease shortly after the original Swine Flu injections, the vast majority is telling him Hell No!
Apparently, a failure in the spin factory is to blame, go figure!
Another interesting FACT is that someone, presumably the US Government has been erasing all records on Guillain–Barré syndrome reports which were found by the dozens via a routine Internet Search mere weeks ago. The Chinese Government would be so proud!
If you have doubts about getting the shot for whatever reason, why don't you look at the number/% of healthcare workers that get it? I'll bet you that a huge percent of the most informed people, i.e. those that most clearly understand the risks and benefits of getting immunized, are a getting the shot. You are crazy not to get it unless you have overt contraindications (egg allergy, immunocompromised, etc...).
People are so unbelievable. They said they don't want the vaccine as it was not tested enough for them. Then some of them complain it is not available to them. I think the Obama administration did the best they can to control H1N1.
Those of us who received the swine flu shot circa 1970's remember too well the scare, bullstuff, and hypocrisy of Rumsfeld & CO. and the goat rope that followed not to mention the deaths. I now have MS possibly from their haste.
Well, duh.....it was not tested enough and is filled with poisons. They put these adjuvants in them and schill them to the public under a huge media campaign while the ones without are given to the elite. It is a test of their control over us and it is failing!!!
"Pelosi and crew are going to give us National Health Care (or at least insurance reform, yet can't even administer shots to much more than 10% of the nation. This is not a very rosy precursor of things to come if this health care business is finally passed."
The vaccine shortage is due to the patent holders not allowing other parties who are perfectly capable of producing the vaccine to do so. Same with the Tamiflu shortage. This is the free market that you want to run your healthcare? Global capitalism at its finest. Have a nice day!
It does not make sense to avoid mercury in seafood and other sources, then get it INJECTED into you via a flu shot.
I so agree with you, "enough". I am more afraid of the plight that Barack;s heatlh "plan" will afford us as a nation than I am of geting the swine fly shot. I'm a social worker and all of my patients are elderly – - -but because I am not a direct health care professional, I don't qualify.
If you have 3 children aged 4, 2 and 3 months (like I do), then its crazy to not get the H1N1 shot. But can understand why other people dont, majority of people who have had this flu have survived OK, just like any other flu. If you have any other illness then I would consider getting it.
the vaccine was developed too fast for me to trust it. sorry but thats just how i feel. i wont get it but wont advise others for or against it. my daughter says that she wont get it for the same reason. shes an adult and can decide for herself. my nephew is in the military and was mandated to get it. he stated that he received the nasal vaccine. You should have seen us all talking to his nose and telling him that the government actually imbedded a tracking and recording devise. great fun in our family! hahahahaha.
We wont get it because the drug companies made the flu in a lab to make money.They dont want a cure for anything,including Cancer,as long as billions can be made from it.Big Pharma and the health insurance companies are the enemy of every American.
Meh...people who need flu shots have weak immune systems. =P
Weren't Democrats saying that 4-5 million Americans were going to die if they didn't get the H1N1 flu shot? Not...so...much.
I don't think people bought into the H1N1 hysteria. The threat was hyped up just so they could push the public option.
Besides, it's a mild flu. The vaccination is only 30% affective. Not worth the risk from the adjuvant found in vaccines. Adjuvants actually impair your immune system. Plus when you get a viral vaccine it contains foreign animal and possibly foreign human DNA. No thanks.
Once again, Dems over exaggerated the dangers we face all for the sake of advancing their agenda.
My guess it's more like Americans CAN'T get the H1N1 flu shot because once again this administration didn't do their job.
Part of the public indifference to the vaccine might be that we haven't been able to get it yet, and that the infection rate is still pretty small. In my city of 250,000, only about 2000 doses have been available to the general public so far.
If the vaccine does become available, I'll get one. I've seen the H1N1 flu really kick some friends and their kids in the butt for a week or so, and I'd rather avoid it if possible.
We need to create a Reserve-Retraining work force to solve the unemployment problem. I have had a plan for forty years. Read it at internetfreepress.com. See for your self.
Thousands have already died because these shots weren't available when the government said they would be. Not a word in the press about these needlessly lost lives because the government dropped the ball. If this had been a real pandemic, I'm sure the press would have covered up the government incompetence as well. Now these same idiots want to run my healtchcare system??? That's an offer I can refuse!
" Enjoy the rationing."
Yeah, why not? We've been enjoying it for 60-70 years. What's more, apparently, 45,000 people were so thrilled with the rationing last year that they up and died from it.
People, people, people. Stop the blame game. President Obama, like Bush, Clinton, Bush and all presidents before them have to deal with the American citizen. A bunch of whinning, nothing is every right, my arm hurts, I want that, babies!!!!! H1N1 is here, and we need to have a little faith that a caring, intelligent leader, like our current President and his administration will make the best decisions they can based on the facts available.
Its shocking that Americans will believe anything when it leads to to war or fighting; but nothing when it comes to helpping each other and finding was to get along with others. How sad we are!!!
I have a plan that will solve the unemployment problem .Read about it at internetfreepress.
Why do you not care about solving the unemployment problem?
I agree with some of the other posters on here. I'm not in a high risk category and don't see the need to introduce additional toxins to my body. We all have to deal with some illness in our lives. I've never had a flu shot, just figure I'll fight the flu. Save the vaccination for the folks who really need it.
I got a h1 shot last saturday, just walked in, paid my money and got the shot, have had no adverse reactions or complications. Can't afford to be off a week with the flu, have to work to pay for all of those who don't.
People are afraid of it.
I have had a plan for forty years that will solve the unemployment problem. Why will you not go to the internetfreepress,.com and read it?
Solving the unemployment problem is the key to a healthy economy.
I passed on it, no thanks I will take my chances
It's a trust issue...in my area we already have a young adult female who developed shot induced Lupus from the H1N1 shot (confirmed).
The relaibility of the drug has not been proven; nor the potential side effects made clear for an informed decision. As well, there is the issue of the "T" included in the drug and it's known past effects, along with those allergic to egg product. Lots of reasons for the Whys.
Wow, so many people are misinformed. There are no adjuvants, aluminum, or squalene in any of the US versions of the shot! Please do your research.
No trust in Government..
I am not worried about the side effects that may or may not be present today. I am more concerned about the ones that will show up in a few years! I prefer not being the guniea pig for this on the fly lab test...
most likely widespread distribution will take as long as the decision making process on troops for afghanistan...resulting in more dead Americans in both cases. good job obama...
It does not surprise me. It is a reflection of the general cynism that Americans view government and insitutions. I hear it everyday. You have people who will not even brush their teeth because they believe toothpastes have elements in them that can kill them and both government and the paste industry are aware of it and do not care. the list goes on and on. Misinformation, miseducation? Yes, I believe so.
I do not want the HIN1 vaccine nor do I want the flue shot. What I cant seem to fathom about this swine flu " is that, hundreths/thousangths more ppl die of the regular flu yearly, compare to how many ppl have died of the "swine flue" since it came about. I have no trust in whats going on. There is more to this swine flu than we think. I'll continue to wash my hands whn needed, and avoid putting them in my face.
The H1N1 so-called vaccine contains Mercury, folks. Furthermore, Baxter, located in Austria and makers of the vaccine, contaminated the vaccine and sent it to other European countries, including the Czech republic which was smart enough to test it on Ferrets which died immediately. Gee, I wonder why?
I don't know about anyone else, but my reasons for getting it for me or my family are: 1) Mercury; and 2) The fact that the government has shielded the drug companies from liability should there be any ill effect.
don,t realy care i got mine
The vaccine shortage is due to the patent holders not allowing other parties who are perfectly capable of producing the vaccine to do so. Same with the Tamiflu shortage. This is the free market that you want to run your healthcare? Global capitalism at its finest. Have a nice day!
The greedy pharma guys foregoing profits and NOT producing, or not selling rights to other producers to maximize profits?
Say it isn't so. I would think you'd be congratulating them in this instance.
I already got my seasonal flu shot. Had the swine flu shot been available when I got the seasonal flu, I may have gotten it. But since I am not in one of the groups that's likely to get swine flu, I am not going to waste my time standing in a long line for a chance to get the shot.
The management of the swine flu vaccine was handled poorly. It should have been available with the seasonal flu vaccine. That way, more people who wanted it could have gotten it.
Ok, I get that the vaccines were not out at the deadline that the government had set. But umm last time I checked the government is not in the vaccine producing business! So its really up to the manufacurers to meet the governments deadlines, and they are the ones who dropped the ball. Stop blaming the government because you aren't partial to who is in charge!!! And furthermore, this flu is just like the seasonal flu, trust me, I've had it. So really the high risk are the only ones who realllly need the vaccine. So stop all of this pointless blaming, and use that energy to come up with something constructive for once!!
There isn't enough supply for all wanting a flu shot, so I'm not willing to stand in line only to find none available. Some places are charging to much money for the H1N1 shots, that are supposed to be free from the government.
As a person that seems to "get" the flu from every flu shot I have ever taken ... I just do NOT want to chance it with the H1N1 shot.
And secondly ... I've already HAD H1N1 back in September ... So I don't think the shot will do me much good now.
Is THAT reason enough???
My pharmacist, a very smart, decent and caring person – said she is not going to get the shot – so I sure as heck won't! She said it was rushed to the market too fast and she did not feel there was enough time for proper testing. And then there's the concerns about its overall effectiveness and ingredients. Nope, ain't going to do it.
As to how the program is being run – should we really be surprised. The government cannot run anything right. If anything, this should be a perfect example of why we should NOT allow the federal government to run our health care system. How about them apples?
Flu Shots for Clunkers!
I would guess that the primary reason most people don't want it is because of the immunity that the vaccine makers have been given. If anyone gets ill from it, there is no recourse. We stay ill or permanently damaged with no compensation from the maker of the vaccine that harmed us. At least this is my reason for NEVER getting flu vaccines.
If the government makes the makers responsible, I think you'll see more people lining up. There's been no shortage of it where I live, so people saying they can't get it doesn't wash here.
This H1N1 debacle is just a peek into the future of government run healthcare. Limiting mammograms is next. Keep drinking the Kool Aid 'cause soon you ain't getting no mo medicine.
I got vaccinated Monday with zero side effects. I am a 46 yeard old female with mild lifelong asthma. I too was concerned about side effects, I have never had a flu vaccine. But after learning that the virus replicates in the lungs and not wanting to get sick, I went for it.
You should too because it may save lives of those around you.
The supply is increasing and it is really no big deal, arm did not even hurt. How lucky we are! It is also free.
Your decision: if you get the flu – stay home and don't whine.
i got it. i have a son thats two months old, and if he got sick, because i was too stupid to get what was offered, i couldn't live with that, i have to know that i did everything i could to prevent that...
i think its funny that people have these conspiracy theories about the vaccine, and in the same breath, condemn obama for not having enough of it. does it matter if there is enough, if you are thinking its all a scam? do you want it or not? i can't even tell.
i also like "they rushed it, and didn't take the time to test it". what do you want them to do, study it for ten years?
"i remember the shot from the 70's". buddy, its 2009, i assure you that things have changed.
i agree with captain tony. most people in the healthcare industry, have got the vaccine. my doctor got it. you should probably trust the people who have the education and experience to make the call. a crazy idea i know.
I've used my choice not to take the flu shot and I haven't had anyone knocking on my door demanding I do so. It's called a freedom of choice people, take it or don't take it, and stop complaining whether it's available or not.
I'm allergic to the flu vaccine, but thinking a vaccine is dangerous is ultimate stupidity.
Why would you even poll this? When they don;t show up for the vaccine, won;t it give them that data?
The vaccine shortage is because of distribution mainly. With this vaccine, the government is in charge of shipping it and they're doing a terrible job of it. A couple of weeks ago, a woman doctor was talking about it on a CNN report. The government can not do an efficient job. Remember that if you think government run healthcare is a good idea.
I'm not surprised by this poll. Feeds right into the Guvmint' conspiracy theory crowd. Pass out the tin-foil hats. We could offer tax incentives for them to emigrate to Somalia though When you think of it, it is the perfect solution. Somalia has no government, no services, no taxes and everybody is a religious fanatic and walking around with a gun. The tea-party and birther wings of the GOP would fit right in!
I read that Dr Gupta and Obama own shares in Baxter.
People are way to trusting of what the government and their media puppets say. There is NO WAY I would get it because I have done my homework. But Hey! if you want to shoot yourself and your kids up with their poisen GO FOR IT! nobody is stopping anyone from getting it.
Everyone has a opinion and no facts to back it up. It is sad to see that 45% of the public is uneducated about who is really running the show.