High Point Poll: Half of NC residents report getting a flu shot

Published February 21, 2019

by High Point University Poll, February 20, 2019.

The most recent HPU Poll finds that about half (49 percent) of North Carolinian residents surveyed say they had a flu shot within the past 12 months. The HPU Poll reported a similar finding in fall 2018, when 47 percent said they had a flu shot within the past 12 months.

HPU Poll participants were also asked if they plan on getting a flu shot this year. Forty-one percent say they do not plan on getting a flu shot, while 17 percent say that they do plan on getting a flu shot this year, but have not yet done so. Almost two in five (37 percent) indicated that they have already received the flu vaccination this year.

The HPU Poll finds that more than two-thirds (70 percent) of North Carolinians say they have not seen a health care provider for the flu in the past 12 months. This is very close to the 72 percent of North Carolina residents who said the same thing in October 2018.

“This data is in line with reports from the CDC that roughly 42 percent of adult North Carolinians received their flu vaccine in the 2017-2018 season,” says Dr. Jordan Smith, an assistant professor of clinical sciences in HPU’s Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy. “It is encouraging that a large portion of the population gets an annual influenza vaccine, but it is apparent that there is work to be done to achieve the goal of a 70 percent immunization rate set forth by the ‘Healthy People 2020’ initiative.”

All adults – Health care providers and flu (February 2019)