Nearly 55 percent of Michiganians say they do not plan to get vaccinated for the H1N1 flu or have their children vaccinated for the virus, according to a poll released Monday.
And nearly 40 percent of the respondents said they have no plans to get vaccinations for the seasonal flu.
The findings come as the number of cases of swine flu are surging across the United States and are expected to increase in Michigan in the coming months. And they come as more questions are being raised about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.
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Charlene Akers, 46, of Garden City said she has mixed feelings about the vaccine, but for now has no plans on getting it.
"I don't think there's enough study done on the shot to know what's it's going to do," said Akers, a teacher's aide at Garden City School. "You know how the horror stories or rumors get going."
As of last week, 86 children had died from swine flu in the United States since it burst on the scene in the spring, with 43 deaths reported in September and early October. In past winters, the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has counted 40 or 50 child deaths for the entire flu season.
In Michigan, 15 have died from H1N1. None were children.
Dr. Walter Davis, pandemic flu coordinator for the Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness and the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion, described the poll results as unfortunate.
"We've had more pediatric deaths during this H1N1 flu epidemic than we normally have during the entire flu season, and it isn't even flu season yet," he said.
The poll of 600 registered voters was conducted Oct. 11-15 by Lansing-based EPIC-MRA. It has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.
Dr. Eden Wells, medical epidemiologist with the Michigan Department of Community Health, said the Michigan poll results were "a bit disheartening."
"It reflects a lot more education that we should be working on getting out to folks to make these decisions," she added.
One parent does intend to follow his doctor's advice.
Jeremy Lewis of West Bloomfield said he plans to have his 20-month-old son, Max, receive both vaccines.
"There seems to be a somewhat irrational fear of vaccinations," Lewis said. He recalled an incident earlier this year when a stranger approached him at a park and urged him and his wife to avoid vaccinating their child, saying it could stunt his child's mental development.
"We figure (doctors) know best," said Lewis, 31.
Lewis is among the 29 percent of poll respondents who said they plan to get the seasonal flu shot. Another 28 percent said they had already received a flu shot.
But the respondents were less enthusiastic about the H1N1 vaccine, with 29 percent saying they intended to get vaccinated and only 1 percent reporting having already been vaccinated.
The poll also found that nearly 40 percent of parents said they would have their children vaccinated for the H1N1 virus.
Doris Hill, 64, of Southfield said she had no plans to get the vaccine or discuss it with her doctor during her regular visit this week. She said she feared adverse reactions. "I guess I'm afraid of all the things I hear about it," said Hill, who retired from Ford Motor Co. two years ago.
"I don't want anything else to happen to me," said Hill, who also suffers from high blood pressure, borderline diabetes and had a stroke two years ago.
"I have ailments as it is."
Vashaunda Martin said she is still undecided about whether her children will get vaccinated.
"I really haven't made up my mind," said Martin, who has a 13-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter. "I really do need more information, about what are the benefits and what are the risks."
Martin, of Detroit, said her children will be getting their regular flu shots by next month.
Davis said his greatest fear is that while most of the nation is struggling with the pandemic, it hasn't hit Michigan hard yet so people don't understand. He's frustrated by reports of so many people refusing to get vaccinated and parents failing to sign the consent forms their children have been bringing home from school. He is concerned the issue will not be taken seriously until people begin getting sick and die.
"If you hear a fire alarm, you look around and you don't move because you don't smell any smoke," he said.
"Others may smell a little smoke, but they won't leave the building until they see flames. We're in a pandemic right now. We have a national emergency right now and the thing is we don't see it in Michigan."
ktaylor@detnews.com (313) 222-2058
And nearly 40 percent of the respondents said they have no plans to get vaccinations for the seasonal flu.
The findings come as the number of cases of swine flu are surging across the United States and are expected to increase in Michigan in the coming months. And they come as more questions are being raised about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.
Advertisement
Charlene Akers, 46, of Garden City said she has mixed feelings about the vaccine, but for now has no plans on getting it.
"I don't think there's enough study done on the shot to know what's it's going to do," said Akers, a teacher's aide at Garden City School. "You know how the horror stories or rumors get going."
As of last week, 86 children had died from swine flu in the United States since it burst on the scene in the spring, with 43 deaths reported in September and early October. In past winters, the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has counted 40 or 50 child deaths for the entire flu season.
In Michigan, 15 have died from H1N1. None were children.
Dr. Walter Davis, pandemic flu coordinator for the Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness and the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion, described the poll results as unfortunate.
"We've had more pediatric deaths during this H1N1 flu epidemic than we normally have during the entire flu season, and it isn't even flu season yet," he said.
The poll of 600 registered voters was conducted Oct. 11-15 by Lansing-based EPIC-MRA. It has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.
Dr. Eden Wells, medical epidemiologist with the Michigan Department of Community Health, said the Michigan poll results were "a bit disheartening."
"It reflects a lot more education that we should be working on getting out to folks to make these decisions," she added.
One parent does intend to follow his doctor's advice.
Jeremy Lewis of West Bloomfield said he plans to have his 20-month-old son, Max, receive both vaccines.
"There seems to be a somewhat irrational fear of vaccinations," Lewis said. He recalled an incident earlier this year when a stranger approached him at a park and urged him and his wife to avoid vaccinating their child, saying it could stunt his child's mental development.
"We figure (doctors) know best," said Lewis, 31.
Lewis is among the 29 percent of poll respondents who said they plan to get the seasonal flu shot. Another 28 percent said they had already received a flu shot.
But the respondents were less enthusiastic about the H1N1 vaccine, with 29 percent saying they intended to get vaccinated and only 1 percent reporting having already been vaccinated.
The poll also found that nearly 40 percent of parents said they would have their children vaccinated for the H1N1 virus.
Doris Hill, 64, of Southfield said she had no plans to get the vaccine or discuss it with her doctor during her regular visit this week. She said she feared adverse reactions. "I guess I'm afraid of all the things I hear about it," said Hill, who retired from Ford Motor Co. two years ago.
"I don't want anything else to happen to me," said Hill, who also suffers from high blood pressure, borderline diabetes and had a stroke two years ago.
"I have ailments as it is."
Vashaunda Martin said she is still undecided about whether her children will get vaccinated.
"I really haven't made up my mind," said Martin, who has a 13-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter. "I really do need more information, about what are the benefits and what are the risks."
Martin, of Detroit, said her children will be getting their regular flu shots by next month.
Davis said his greatest fear is that while most of the nation is struggling with the pandemic, it hasn't hit Michigan hard yet so people don't understand. He's frustrated by reports of so many people refusing to get vaccinated and parents failing to sign the consent forms their children have been bringing home from school. He is concerned the issue will not be taken seriously until people begin getting sick and die.
"If you hear a fire alarm, you look around and you don't move because you don't smell any smoke," he said.
"Others may smell a little smoke, but they won't leave the building until they see flames. We're in a pandemic right now. We have a national emergency right now and the thing is we don't see it in Michigan."
ktaylor@detnews.com (313) 222-2058
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