Tracking Public Opinion on H1N1:
SSRS Collaborates with the Harvard Opinion Research Program in a Series of Polls
In 2009, SSRS joined forces with the Harvard Opinion Research Program (HORP) at the Harvard School of Public Health to conduct an ongoing series of polls assessing concerns and preparedness surrounding H1N1. In April 2009, SSRS and the HORP research team launched the first poll in this series. This poll focused on gauging the public’s knowledge of H1N1 and willingness to comply with the recommendations of public health officials. During the summer of 2009, the researchers turned their attention to the difficulties that Americans might encounter if asked to stay at home in order to minimize the spread of the disease. More recently, the polls have centered on the likelihood that Americans would seek the H1N1 vaccine for themselves or others and the difficulties facing those who have sought the vaccination. Over past nine months, SSRS and Harvard have polled several different populations including: the general population, parents of school-aged children, businesses, and American travelers.
All of the polls utilized random samples and employed a dual frame design, including both landline and cell phone samples to minimize coverage bias.
For more information about the initial tracking polls:
Initial Outbreak
First Follow-up
General and Parent Tracker
Polls conducted in the fall of 2009 focused on the H1N1 vaccine. In the period just before the vaccine became available, a national poll (N=1,042) found that approximately 40% of Americans were absolutely certain to get the vaccine for themselves and slightly more than half of the parents said they were absolutely certain to get their children vaccinated. Respondents cited safety concerns and the belief that the vaccine is unnecessary as the main reasons for avoiding the vaccine.
Our poll found that, once the vaccine was made available, most adults who tried to get the vaccine had difficulty getting it - only about a third of those who tried actually got vaccinated. By December, the vaccine became more accessible: 57% of adults who tried getting vaccinated managed to do so, and almost three-quarters of parents who tried to get the vaccine for their children were successful. Safety was a prominent explanation for parents who avoided the vaccine for their children.
Fourth tracker poll and vaccine
The November and December vaccine polls:
Turning to more specialized populations, a poll of businesses across the United States found that more than 80% of business managers indicated that they were concerned a widespread outbreak of H1N1 would have a negative effect their business. A majority of the nation’s employers foresaw operational difficulties if an outbreak of H1N1 forced their employees to stay at home for an extended period of time. Human resources personnel at 56% of the businesses polled believe that if half their workforce was absent for two weeks, they would incur severe operational problems. The poll consisted of human resource personnel in 1,057 businesses identified by their size and their Critical Infrastructure/Key Resource designation.
Poll of businesses:
A poll conducted in November 2009 and focusing on American travelers (N=1,124), found that H1N1 concerns affected the behaviors of passengers on planes, buses, trains, and cruises. Travelers were most concerned about becoming ill with H1N1 influenza while traveling by airplane, but a majority of travelers for each mode of transportation reported taking precautions to avoid contracting this type of flu. Most travelers said they were likely to take precautions to keep themselves and others healthy from the flu while traveling. Further, nearly four in five said they would delay or cancel their next trip if they got sick, "coughing, sneezing and with a fever, right before traveling."
Poll of travelers:
All of the polls utilized random samples and employed a dual frame design, including both landline and cell phone samples to minimize coverage bias.
For more information about the initial tracking polls:
Initial Outbreak
First Follow-up
General and Parent Tracker
Polls conducted in the fall of 2009 focused on the H1N1 vaccine. In the period just before the vaccine became available, a national poll (N=1,042) found that approximately 40% of Americans were absolutely certain to get the vaccine for themselves and slightly more than half of the parents said they were absolutely certain to get their children vaccinated. Respondents cited safety concerns and the belief that the vaccine is unnecessary as the main reasons for avoiding the vaccine.
Our poll found that, once the vaccine was made available, most adults who tried to get the vaccine had difficulty getting it - only about a third of those who tried actually got vaccinated. By December, the vaccine became more accessible: 57% of adults who tried getting vaccinated managed to do so, and almost three-quarters of parents who tried to get the vaccine for their children were successful. Safety was a prominent explanation for parents who avoided the vaccine for their children.
Fourth tracker poll and vaccine
The November and December vaccine polls:
Turning to more specialized populations, a poll of businesses across the United States found that more than 80% of business managers indicated that they were concerned a widespread outbreak of H1N1 would have a negative effect their business. A majority of the nation’s employers foresaw operational difficulties if an outbreak of H1N1 forced their employees to stay at home for an extended period of time. Human resources personnel at 56% of the businesses polled believe that if half their workforce was absent for two weeks, they would incur severe operational problems. The poll consisted of human resource personnel in 1,057 businesses identified by their size and their Critical Infrastructure/Key Resource designation.
Poll of businesses:
A poll conducted in November 2009 and focusing on American travelers (N=1,124), found that H1N1 concerns affected the behaviors of passengers on planes, buses, trains, and cruises. Travelers were most concerned about becoming ill with H1N1 influenza while traveling by airplane, but a majority of travelers for each mode of transportation reported taking precautions to avoid contracting this type of flu. Most travelers said they were likely to take precautions to keep themselves and others healthy from the flu while traveling. Further, nearly four in five said they would delay or cancel their next trip if they got sick, "coughing, sneezing and with a fever, right before traveling."
Poll of travelers:
