H1N1 Influenza Pandemic in Italy Revisited: Has the Willingness to Get Vaccinated Suffered in the Long Run?

Ludolph, Ramona; Nobile, Marta; Hartung, Uwe; Castaldi, Silvana; Schulz, Peter J.

This general uncertainty concerning the necessity and possible side effects of the vaccine paired with a sensationalizing media coverage regarding the consequences of H1N1 can be observed in almost all affected countries. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] Especially studies on the public's assessment of the media's performance during the pandemic find much criticism. The perception that the media played up the threat posed by the virus was a recurring element among this criticism: a qualitative study from New Zealand speaks of the media as over-hyping the risk. 17 Overstating the risk posed by the new flu was also a concern to forum commentators of online news in Canada. 18 Besides, two focus groups studies from the UK found a similar perception: the media was seen as inducing fears and panic. 19, 20 Every second respondent of the Eurobarometer, conducted in November 2009, stated the media paid too much attention to H1N1, while only less than 10% considered the media's attention as too little. 21 Health care institutions have also been criticised for exaggerating the risk posed by H1N1, especially early after the new virus had been discovered. 11, 22, 23 Regarding these results it does not seem surprising that vaccination rates were globally rather low. 24, 25 This observation raises the question of long-term, secondary consequences of the H1N1 pandemic for adopting vaccination as a protective behaviour in the future.