Study: H1N1 vaccination

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During the last flu season, 6 out of every 10 Canadians, or 16.5 million people aged 12 and over, did not get vaccinated against the H1N1 virus. Conversely, 11.6 million people, or 41% of Canadians aged 12 and older, excluding the territories, reported that they received the H1N1 vaccination during the last flu season.

According to self-reported data from the 2010 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), the most frequent reason, cited by 74% of Canadians who chose not to receive the vaccine, was that they "did not think it was necessary."

The second most common reason, reported by 13%, was that they "had not gotten around to it yet." The third most common reason reported by 7% was fear, although the nature of the fear was not specified.

The H1N1 flu virus, a new influenza strain to which most people had no natural immunity, emerged in April 2009. Vaccination clinics across the country offered the vaccine to Canadians beginning in the fall of 2009. Data for this article were collected by the CCHS between January and April 2010.

Males were more likely than females to state that they "did not think it was necessary." They were also more likely than females to say that they "had not gotten around to it yet." Women were more likely to report fear as a reason for not receiving the vaccine.

Although the majority of Canadians were not vaccinated, rates of vaccination were higher for specific risk populations, especially among groups given priority for early immunization.

For example, 66% of health-care workers had an H1N1 shot, compared with 35% of the rest of the population.

Similarly, 55% of individuals with select chronic conditions, which place them at increased risk for complications, received the vaccine, compared with 38% of those without chronic conditions.

People who had previous influenza vaccinations were also more likely to receive the H1N1 vaccine. About 76% of Canadians who had received the seasonal flu shot within the last year opted for the H1N1 vaccine, compared with 28% who had never received a seasonal flu shot.

Note: Respondents to the Canadian Community Health Survey were asked if they had received the H1N1 flu shot in the 12 months prior to the survey.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3226.

The article, "H1N1 vaccination" which is part of today's Health Reports (82-003-X, free) online release, is now available from the Key resource module of our website under Publications. For more information about this article, contact Heather Gilmour (613-951-2114; heather.gilmour@statcan.gc.ca), Health Analysis Division, or Nancy Hofmann (613-951-0789; nancy.hofmann@statcan.gc.ca), Health Statistics Division.

For more information about Health Reports, contact Janice Felman (613-951-6446; janice.felman@statcan.gc.ca), Health Analysis Division.

For more information about the 2010 Canadian Community Health Survey, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this survey, contact Client Services (613-951-1746; hd-ds@statcan.gc.ca), Health Statistics Division.