Perceptions towards the A(H1N1) vaccine among risk groups : A study conducted in Stockholm, Sweden

Influenza type A is associated with most severe complications to humans and is historically recognized to cause pandemics. If a new subtype replicates well in humans it might upsurge in a new pandemic strain, one such example is the Influenza A (A/H1N1). The A/H1N1 pandemic in 2009/2010 was not as severe in Sweden as expected. Criticism has targeted the fact that authorities having misjudged the need for vaccination, concerns have been raised regarding the effect of the campaign on people’s willingness to be vaccinated in the future. This study aims to investigate if there are significant differences in attitudes towards the vaccination of A/H1N1 among different population groups in Stockholm, Sweden. The main groups explored are risk groups and non- risk groups, defined by objective definitions. A quantitative method was approached using questionnaires. The result indicates that people in a risk group and vaccinated had more favorable attitudes towards the vaccine compared to other groups. They also expressed less troubled concerns regarding vaccine safety and were more likely to immunize referring to inadequate health. It is evident that people at risk also define themselves as more vulnerable, in which vaccination is more acceptable. The expressed attitudes are in such dependent on risk-perceptions and vaccine status