Poll shows most Utahns don't intend to get H1N1 vaccine

Copyright 2009 Deseret News

Most Utahns don't intend to get vaccinated against the novel H1N1 influenza, according to a new Deseret News/KSL-TV poll.

Just 3 percent of respondents to the statewide survey said they'd already been vaccinated for the deadly virus, often called the swine flu.

Only 42 percent of those who hadn't been vaccinated said they planned to get the H1N1 vaccine this year. Fifty-one percent said they didn't want it.

The survey by Dan Jones & Associates was conducted Oct. 28-29 among 322 people around the state and has a 5.5 percent margin of error.

It's not as if Utahns aren't familiar with the effects of the virus. There has been extensive media coverage of the 32 Utahns who have died as a result of H1N1 since the outbreak began in May.

And 44 percent of the respondents said a close friend, family member or co-worker had been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus. But 95 percent of the respondents said they haven't been sick with the virus themselves.

"I am disappointed that the majority said they don't want the vaccine, but I don't take that as an absolute," said Dr. David Sundwall, executive director of the Utah Department of Health.

Sundwall said many of those opposed to being vaccinated will change their minds once they know someone who has the virus. He said more Utahns would have been vaccinated by now had more vaccine doses been available.

Thousands of people seeking the vaccine have been turned away at public clinics. So far, Sundwall said, almost 218,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine have been distributed throughout the state, enough to vaccinate about 10 percent of the population.

Although the emphasis has been on getting the vaccine to those considered a higher priority, including children, pregnant women and those with chronic illness, Sundwall said he'd like to see at least half of the population vaccinated.

Still, the doctor said he respects the opinions of those who have reservations about the vaccination.

"This is voluntary," Sundwall said, suggesting those who choose not to be vaccinated take common-sense precautions such as using hand sanitizer and coughing into their sleeves.

The unnamed survey respondents offered a long list of excuses for not getting the H1N1 vaccine, including telling pollsters things like, "it's a communist conspiracy" and "I think it's a big hoax."