The public’s acceptance of novel vaccines during a pandemic: a focus group study and its application to influenza H1N1

Abstract

As influenza H1N1 spreads around the world, health officials are considering the development and useof a new vaccine to protect the public and help control the outbreak. Acceptance of novel vaccinesduring health crises, however, is influenced by perceptions of a range of risks, including risk ofinfection, risk of becoming severely ill or dying if infected, and risk of serious side- and long-termeffects of the vaccine. Eleven focus groups were conducted with the public in Vancouver, Canada in2006 and 2007 to explore how people assess these risks and how these assessments relate towillingness to use novel vaccines in a pandemic. Concerns about using new vaccines during apandemic differ from concerns about using established products in a non-crisis situation. Participantswere hesitant to use the novel vaccines because of a low perception of risk of infection early in apandemic coupled with the many uncertainties that surround new vaccines and the emerging infectiousdisease, and concern that unsafe pharmaceuticals may be rushed to market during the health crisis.Understanding adults' assessment of risks related to, and willingness to use, novel vaccines during apandemic can help officials promote disease-control measures in ways that improve the likelihood ofacceptance by the public and may increase uptake of an H1N1 vaccine.