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Who Gets A Flu Shot?

McIntosh, J.

2025-12-04 epidemiology
10.64898/2025.12.03.25341550 medRxiv
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ObjectiveTo determine the characteristics which lead individuals to get a flu shot. Study DesignTwo countries are examined using sample survey data to compare the relative contribution of education and self-perceived health in the flu shot decision. MethodsLogit probability models are fitted to explain the binary decision to have a flu shot using the Canadian Covid-19 Antibody Survey for 2020 and the American National Health Interview Survey for 2022. Regressors included age gender, self reported health status and educational attainment. ResultsEducational attainment was shown to be the main driver of this decision in the US whereas self reported health explained most of the variation in the Canadian data. The difference in the results was attributed to differences in the health care systems. ConclusionsBoth countries have unacceptably low vaccination rates for influenza. For the US public policies should do a better job in addressing this problem by concentrating efforts on getting more low income or poorly educated respondents to get vaccinated. For Canada, the un-vaxinated are less visible but public education programs could be improved.

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