Critical factors guiding parents' decisions to immunize revealed in the Canadian Flu Report included safety and effectiveness of the seasonal flu vaccine (58 per cent), recommendation by a health care professional (43 per cent), duration of immunity against seasonal flu (28 per cent), and a convenient location to receive the vaccine (26 per cent). Approximately one in 10 said how the vaccine is administered (12 per cent) and discomfort experienced when receiving the vaccine (nine per cent) are important considerations.

Among the parents who did not vaccinate their children in the past year, six per cent cite their child's fear of needles as the reason. Sixty per cent of all parents felt a nasal administration would offer a preferred method of delivery for their children.

"Further education and new advancements in vaccine technology will make the immunization process much easier, so there will be no excuses not to get vaccinated," says Dr. Libman. "Summer may be around the corner, but the next flu season is only a few months away. Canadians need to think about their approach and ensure they are informed and prepared for another flu season which, as we saw last year, may be unpredictable in terms of severity, duration, and timing."

Source: ASTRAZENECA CANADA INC.