WASHINGTON – More than half of the many Americans with a relative who is at high risk of danger from getting the flu say they’re worried about the vaccine shortage, according to an Associated Press poll about the crisis.
Healthy Americans have been urged to forgo shots so there would be enough for those at highest risk from influenza – children from 6 months to 23 months, the elderly, the chronically ill, pregnant women, certain health care workers and a few other groups.
More than four in 10 Americans, 42 percent, say they or someone in their family is at high risk from the flu, according to the poll.
A third of all Americans say they’re worried that someone in their family who needs a flu shot will not be able to get one. Women and people over the age of 50 were most likely to say they are worried.
The number doubles when people are asked if they are generally concerned about the shortage.
“This worries me for my father because he’s 84 and he had a stroke,” said Oliver Guzman, a garage door installer from Blue Island, Ill. “We’ve been trying to find out where we can get them. Flu season is coming up and we’re trying to get him a shot to keep him healthy.”
The poll found just over a third either plan to get the flu vaccine this year or have already gotten it. Almost three in 10, 28 percent, say they plan to get the vaccine, and 7 percent say they have already gotten the vaccine this year.
About four in 10, or 42 percent, say they got the flu vaccine last season.
More than half of those over age 50 got the flu vaccine last season and three-fourths of those 65 and older.
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