C. S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor Michigan conducted a National Poll on Children's
Health August 13 -31, 2009. The poll interviewed 1,678 parents across the United States about their perceptions of H1N1 and their plans to have their children vaccinated against H1N1 and seasonal flu.
The margin of error in the poll is 2 to 5 percent.
Perception is reality and in this case may well be a killer.
Results
Forty percent of parents indicate they will get their children vaccinated against H1N1 flu.
Fifty-four percent of parents indicate they will get their children vaccinated against seasonal flu.
Among parents who do not plan to get their children vaccinated against H1N1 flu, 46 percent indicate they are not worried about their children getting H1N1 flu, while 20 percent believe H1N1 flu is not serious.
One perceptions were fear of side effects of the H1N1 vaccine,
The breakdown by ethnic groups is
More than 50 percent of Hispanic parents plan to have their children vaccinated against H1N1 flu
Thirty-eight percent of white parents plan to have their children vaccinated against H1N1 flu.
Thirty percent of black parents plan to have their children vaccinated against H1N1 flu.
The larger percentage of Hispanic parents is assumed to be due to the epidemic of H1N1 in Mexico and a resultant perceived risk. An analysis of a single month's infections in Mexico with a third of the US population was 375,000 cases and Mexico was very well prepared for the epidemic.
Source: http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0006895 Thirty-three percent of parents believed that H1N1 will be worse than seasonal flu and 50 percent believe H1N1 and seasonal flu will be about the same risk.
According to actual fact from the CDC, Mexico, and multiple Asian countries the rates of illness and hospitalization are higher for H1N1 and children. Children are one of the groups that are at the highest risk for getting H1N1.
If perception kills your child who will you blame.
Medical professionals and government are now tasked with persuading the majority of the United States population to do the commonsense thing.
If you have a complaint about the cost of medical care it just might be this kind of perception versus reality that loads up the costs.
This problem is reiterated in hundreds of articles like
Bumpy' Start Seen for Swine Flu Vaccine Plan
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/26/health/research/26flu.html?hp From advertisement on Craig's list it appears that H1N1 vaccine and/or seasonal flu will be available locally in early October. No formal announcements have been made to date.
Flu Clinic Staff (Birmingham)
Date: 2009-09-24, 1:46PM EDT
Reply to: job-5tsdg-1390394704@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
We are in need of experienced medical personnel to administer flu shots at a small clinic on October 6th. If you are available to work for 3 hours during the middle of the day on October 6th, please send your resume and in the subject line put "Birmingham."
Location: Birmingham
Compensation: $14 - $17 p/h
This is a contract job.
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
PostingID: 1390394704
RN/LVN-Needed for Flu Shot Clinic (Birmingham, AL)
Date: 2009-09-25, 1:23AM EDT
Reply to: job-dpp4q-1391358650@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
Our company is looking for an RN/LVN to provide flu shots at a local company during their annual health event. The event is Oct. 5th from 9:30am to 2pm in Birmingham, AL. Pay is $30/hr Please send your resume if interested. MSWord, PDF or pasted to an email.
Location: Birmingham, AL
Compensation: $30/hr, $.35/mile after 70 miles total
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
PostingID: 1391358650
General information about H1N1 influenza:
Source: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm Information about the H1N1 vaccine and vaccine safety:
Source: http://cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/vaccine_safety_qa.htm Source: http://media-newswire.com/release_1100180.html Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-6180-Birmingham-Science-News-Examiner~y2009m9d28-If-your-perception-of-H1N1-kills-your-child-who-will-you-blame 
