title: Likely correlation between sources of information and acceptability of A/H1N1 swine-origin influenza virus vaccine in Marseille, France.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In France, there was a reluctance to accept vaccination against the A/H1N1 pandemic influenza virus despite government recommendation and investment in the vaccine programme.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We examined the willingness of different populations to accept A/H1N1 vaccination (i) in a French hospital among 3315 employees immunized either by in-house medical personnel or mobile teams of MDs and (ii) in a shelter housing 250 homeless persons. Google was used to assess the volume of enquiries concerning incidence of influenza. We analyzed the information on vaccination provided by Google, the website of the major French newspapers, and PubMed. Two trust Surveys were used to assess public opinion on the trustworthiness of people in different professions. Paramedics were significantly more reluctant to accept immunisation than qualified medical staff. Acceptance was significantly increased when recommended directly by MDs. Anecdotal cases of directly observed severe infections were followed by enhanced acceptance of paramedical staff. Scientific literature was significantly more in favour of vaccination than Google and French newspaper websites. In the case of the newspaper websites, information correlated with their recognised political reputations, although they would presumably claim independence from political bias. The Trust Surveys showed that politicians were highly dis-trusted in contrast with doctors and pharmacists who were considered much more trustworthy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low uptake of the vaccine could reflect failure to convey high quality medical information and advice relating to the benefits of being vaccinated. We believe that the media and internet contributed to this problem by raising concerns within the general population and that failure to involve GPs in the control programme may have been a mistake. GPs are highly regarded by the public and can provide face-to-face professional advice and information. The top-down strategy of vaccine programme management and information delivered by the Ministry of Health could have aggravated the problem, because the general population does not always trust politicians.
authors.affiliation: Fédération de Microbiologie, Hôpital de la Timone, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France. antoine.nougairede@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nougairède
authors.forename: Jean-Christophe
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lagier
authors.forename: Laetitia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ninove
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sartor
authors.forename: Sékéné
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Badiaga
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Botelho
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brouqui
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zandotti
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: De Lamballerie
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: La Scola
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drancourt
authors.forename: Ernest A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Gould
authors.forename: Rémi N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Charrel
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raoult
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D005602:France; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011639:Public Opinion
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines