ARLINGTON, Va., Oct 23, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Two in five at-risk U.S.
adults who would most benefit from a seasonal flu shot choose not to get
vaccinated, or don't get around to it, researchers said.
Dr. Katharine Harris of the Rand Corp. in Arlington, Va., and colleagues said
at-risk American adults -- those with heart disease, diabetes or asthma -- who
would benefit most from vaccination against seasonal flu, say they don't get
vaccinated because they believe they do not need to.
Among those who say they do intend to get vaccinated, nearly half don't get
around to it.
Harris and her team analyzed data from two surveys involving more than 1,500
U.S. adults to measure the uptake of the vaccine and understand intentions and
motivations for being vaccinated.
Those who were surveyed fell into the high risk groups specifically recommended
for vaccination by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices.
By midseason, more than one-third of adults for whom the influenza vaccine was
specifically recommended had been vaccinated and another 17 percent said they
intended to do so by the end of the season. However, just about one-half of
those who intended to be vaccinated followed through.
The findings are published in the journal General Internal.
URL: www.upi.com
Copyright 2009 by United Press International