The Associated Press/Ipsos Poll: Flu Vaccinations

Washington, DC - While barely one-third of Americans (35%) have been vaccinated against influenza, three-quarters of Americans age 65 and older (76%) have received a flu shot. Overall, about half of men age 45 and older (48%) and women age 45 and older (49%) have been vaccinated, according to the latest The Associated Press/Ipsos Poll. Only 27% of American parents report having vaccinated their children. There are no strong differences in child vaccination rates by education, region, or race. Not surprisingly given the elderly nature of vaccinated Americans, most (87%) of this year's vaccinated people have been vaccinated in previous flu seasons and have not adopted the latest vaccination methods: 99% of those vaccinated received a shot, and only 1% a nasal spray. Of those who did not receive vaccinations, about two-thirds don't want to: 45% say it's not necessary, and 21% think it does more harm than good. Of the rest, 14% couldn't find the time, 6% couldn't find the money, and 6% couldn't find the vaccine. Of those who did receive vaccinations, 38% just didn't want to get the flu, and 25% felt at some health risk that motivated them. About one-third were talked into it, mostly by doctors (24%), but sometimes by family/friends (5%) or by the news media (4%). Half of the vaccinated say insurance covered it (48%), and employers paid for another 22%. Only 23% paid for the vaccination out of their own pocket - that's a low figure, suggesting that vaccination practices have not spread very far beyond the population that receives it at no out-of-pocket cost after insurance or employer pays. In attempts to ward off the flu, 69% say they are washing their hands more often. For more information, please contact: Thomas Riehle President, Ipsos Public Affairs Washington, D.C. 202.463.7300 About Ipsos Public Affairs Ipsos Public Affairs is a non-partisan, objective, public affairs company made up of veteran campaign and political polling veterans as well as seasoned research professionals. The company conducts strategic research initiatives for a diverse number of Canadian, American, and international organizations based not only on public opinion research, but often elite stakeholder, corporate and media opinion research. Ipsos Public Affairs also conducts national and international public opinion polling on behalf of the The Associated Press, the world's oldest and largest news organization. Ipsos Public Affairs is a member of the Ipsos Group, a leading global survey-based research firm. Visit us at: www.ipsos-pa.com About Ipsos Ipsos is a leading global survey-based market research group, with revenues of 538.5 million euros in 2002. It offers a full suite of research services, guided by industry experts and bolstered by advanced analytics and methodologies in advertising, marketing, public opinion and customer loyalty research, as well as forecasting and modeling. Member companies also offer a full line of custom, syndicated, omnibus, panel, and online research products and services. To learn more, visit: www.ipsos.com Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris Premier Marchй, and is part of the SBF 120 and Next Prime Indices as well as eligible to the Deferred Settlement System (SRD). Euroclear code 7329, Reuters ISOS.LN, Bloomberg IPS FP