Attitudes Toward Influenza Vaccination

Influenza contributes to millions of dollars in healthcare expenses, lost economic productivity and morbidity and mortality of the Chittenden County, VT population. Despite the dire costs of influenza illness, yearly vaccination rates remain low in Vermont and Chittenden County. This study utilized a survey that aimed to gauge the attitudes toward influenza vaccination of patients at the Hinesburg Family Practice. Results of this study suggest that patients under 35 have lower attitude scores (p= 0.035) and that patients with high school level education or bachelor’s level education are more likely to have a negative attitude towards influenza vaccination. Only 60 percent of the study population knew that they could not contract influenza illness from the influenza vaccination. An educational poster was designed for the sub-population that was most likely to have negative attitudes toward influenza.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1246/thumbnail.jp