CCIAP National Immunization Awareness Week Survey

Toronto, ON - A new Ipsos Reid survey conducted on behalf of the Canadian Coalition for Immunization Awareness and Promotion (CCIAP) finds that six in ten (61%) Canadians do not feel knowledgeable about the vaccinations recommended for adults; in fact, just 2% feel "very knowledgeable". Moreover, one quarter (26%) of Canadians say they are not up to date with the recommended vaccinations for adults and the same proportion (27%) don't even know whether or not they are.

A majority (57%) last reviewed their immunization status with their health care providers five years ago or longer; and, in any event, most (64%) do not keep a record of the vaccinations they've received.

The survey also reveals that the preferred method of keeping up to date with required vaccines is a personal immunization card that you keep with other personal health records (39%).

These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid/CCIAP online survey conducted March 26 - 29, 2007. A representative sample of 1038 Canadians 18 years or older was surveyed. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 177 3.1%, 95% of the time. The margin of error will be larger within sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were weighted according to Census data.

Canadians Lack Knowledgeable About Recommended Vaccinations & Many Are Not Up To Date On Their Shots

Most (61%) Canadians do not feel knowledgeable (45% not very, 16% not at all) about vaccinations recommended for adults. Just four in ten (39%) Canadians feel knowledgeable, with only 2% "very" knowledgeable.

• Ontarians are most apt to feel knowledgeable about the recommended vaccinations for adults (49%); Quebecers are most likely to say they are not knowledgeable (78%).

Less than half (46%) of Canadian adults say they are up to date with their recommended shots. One-quarter (26%) admit that they are not up to date with their vaccines and 27% are unsure.

• Women more than men are up to date with their shots (52% vs. 40%).
• Quebecers are among those most likely to be unsure (38%).

Most Canadians Don't Review Their Immunization Status With Their Health Care Provider Regularly & Don't Keep A Personal Vaccination Record

Just 16% of Canadians reviewed their immunization history with their health care providers in the last year. Others last discussed their immunization status with their health care providers 1- 5 years ago (27%), 5-10 years ago (18%), or 10 years ago or longer (39%).

• Albertans appear to be letting the most time pass between immunization discussions with their health care provider; 56% last discussed their vaccination status with their health care provider 10 years ago or longer.

The majority (64%) of Canadians do not keep a record of the vaccinations they have received (only 36% of Canadians do).

• Women are more likely than men to keep a record (41% vs. 31%).

A Personal Immunization Card Is Canadians' Preferred Method Of Keeping Up To Date

Given a list of four possible methods of keeping up to date with required vaccines, the top choice is a personal immunization card that you keep with other personal health records (39%), followed by a reminder from your health care provider about immunization requirements during a visit to their offices (28%), an email reminder from your health care provider (15%), and a telephone reminder (8%). One in ten (10%) Canadians aren't interested in any of the above-mentioned methods.

• Men more than women prefer an "in-person" reminder - that is, from their health care provider when at an appointment (32% vs. 25%), while women are more interested than men in receiving an email reminder (18% vs. 13%).

For more information on this press release, please contact:

Jennifer McLeod
Senior Research Manager
Ipsos Reid Public Affairs
(416) 324-2900
[email protected]
For full tabular results, please visit our website www.ipsos.ca. News Releases are available at: http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/.

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Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

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