Summary of key findings

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H1N1 vaccination

Publication: Health Reports 2010:21(4) www.statcan.gc.ca/healthreports

Authors: Heather Gilmour and Nancy Hofmann

Data: 2010 Canadian Community Health Survey

Six out of every 10 Canadians aged 12 and over did not get vaccinated against the H1N1 virus during the last flu season. About 11.6 million or 41% of Canadians aged 12 and older, excluding the territories, reported that they received the H1N1 vaccination during the last flu season. Conversely, 16.5 million, or 59%, did not get vaccinated.

According to self-reported data from the 2010 Canadian Community Health Survey, 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 to 28% who had never received a seasonal flu shot.

Full article

For more information about this article, contact Heather Gilmour (1-613-951-2114; Heather.Gilmour@statcan.gc.ca), Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada.