Half of all people who avoid the flu shot do so because they question its importance and effectiveness, a new study from the University of Waterloo reports. The study reviewed Ontario health data from 2013-14, where only 34 percent of people went to get the seasonal flu shot despite universal coverage in the province.
"Our research suggests that the majority of people who do not get the flu shot have concerns regarding vaccine effectiveness, or a belief that they have a strong immune system and won't be affected by the flu," said Samantha Meyer, a professor in the School of Public Health and Health Systems at Waterloo and the study's lead author.
The study also found that people avoided flu shots for moral and religious reasons, as well as poor vaccine experiences in the past.
"Unfortunately, many of the responses we heard from participants regarding why they do not get vaccinated were indicative of a very individually focused understanding of the importance of the seasonal influenza vaccine," said Meyer.
While the degree of protection offered by the flu shot varies each year based on how well the predicted strain matches the actual strain, influenza rates have decreased significantly since the government of Ontario introduced the Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP) in 2000.
The program, which provides the flu shot free of charge for all individuals over 6 months, has reduced flu cases by 61 percent and saved $7.8 million in related healthcare costs.
"It's important to look at the health of the population and to recognize the critical role that healthy individuals can play in reducing the risk for the population," said Meyer. "This is particularly important for vulnerable groups more likely to suffer complications from the flu, including pneumonia, inflammation of the heart and brain, sepsis, and even death."
In order to provide population-wide immunity from the flu, 80 percent of healthy individuals and 90 percent of at-risk individuals would need to get the shot. Each year, between 10 percent to 12 percent of Canadians contract the flu. The illness is responsible for more than 12,000 hospital visits and 3500 deaths.
The study was recently published in the Journal of Health Communication.
Source: University of Waterloo
CDC Urges Vigilance: New Recommendations for Monitoring and Testing H5N1 Exposures
July 11th 2025With avian influenza A(H5N1) infections surfacing in both animals and humans, the CDC has issued updated guidance calling for aggressive monitoring and targeted testing to contain the virus and protect public health.
IP LifeLine: Layoffs and the Evolving Job Market Landscape for Infection Preventionists
July 11th 2025Infection preventionists, once hailed as indispensable during the pandemic, now face a sobering reality: budget pressures, hiring freezes, and layoffs are reshaping the field, leaving many IPs worried about their future and questioning their value within health care organizations.
A Helping Hand: Innovative Approaches to Expanding Hand Hygiene Programs in Acute Care Settings
July 9th 2025Who knew candy, UV lights, and a college kid in scrubs could double hand hygiene adherence? A Pennsylvania hospital’s creative shake-up of its infection prevention program shows that sometimes it takes more than soap to get hands clean—and keep them that way.