# 3499
The Harvard School of Public Health has conducted a third poll of American’s concerns over the Swine Flu pandemic, and released the results today. They describe their poll this way:
The study was conducted for the Harvard School of Public Health via telephone by SSRS/ICR, an independent research company.
Interviews were conducted from June 22 to June 28, 2009 among a nationally representative sample of 1823 respondents 18 years of age or older. Of those a total of 260 respondents were Hispanic and a total of 315 respondents were Non-Hispanic African Americans.
A total of 305 interviews were conducted with respondents on cell phones. The margin of error for total respondents is +/-2.82% at the 95% confidence level.
While there are some bright spots, such as an acceptance that there is a strong likelihood of a bad flu season this fall, and some behavior modifications reported – there are some less than encouraging signs as well.
Only 22 percent of those polled knew that (two weeks earlier) the WHO had raised the pandemic alert level to the maximum - level 6. I won’t even try to understand how more than 3/4th’s of those asked could have missed that little news flash.
And while nearly 60% believe that the flu could hit hard this winter, more than 60% believe it won’t directly affect them or their families.
There’s a lot included in this poll, and it isn’t all bad news by any means.
But until the public `gets’ the idea that they, and their loved ones, could be at risk from this pandemic – I fear we are unlikely to seen any real progress on individual preparedness.
2009 Releases
National Survey Finds Six in Ten Americans Believe Serious Outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1) Likely in Fall/Winter
Some Parents Predict Substantial Financial Impacts
For immediate release: July 16, 2009
Boston, MA--As part of a series about Americans' response to the H1N1 flu outbreak, the Harvard Opinion Research Program at the Harvard School of Public Health is releasing a national poll that focuses on Americans' views and concerns about the potential for a more severe outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1) in the fall or winter. The polling was done June 22-28, 2009.
Click here for the complete survey.
Likelihood of Serious Outbreak
Approximately six in ten Americans (59%) believe it is very or somewhat likely that there will be widespread cases of Influenza A (H1N1) with people getting very sick this coming fall or winter.
Parents are more likely than people without children to believe this will occur, with roughly two thirds of parents (65%) saying it is very or somewhat likely compared to 56% of people without children.
"These results suggest Americans are likely to support public health officials in prioritizing preparations for the possibility of a serious H1N1 outbreak in the fall or winter," said Robert J. Blendon, Professor of Health Policy and Political Analysis at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Public Concern About Risk of Getting Ill Personally
Despite a majority believing that a serious outbreak is likely, more than half of Americans (61%) are not concerned about their personal risk-that is, that they or their family members will get sick from influenza A (H1N1) in the next year.
This level is unchanged since the previous poll conducted May 5-6, 2009. The current survey further suggests that the World Health Organization (WHO)'s decision to raise the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6 did not dramatically impact Americans' level of concern about their personal risk.
Only 22% of Americans knew that the WHO had raised the level, and only 8% of Americans said it made them more concerned that they or their family would get Influenza A (H1N1) in the next 12 months.
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