Informing consumers about influenza increases vaccine acceptance - the Denver experience

Influenza remains an important disease worldwide and vaccine acceptance by high-risk patients has not been optimal. Most campaigns have emphasized the role of the physician and enthusiasm has varied from exuberant to negative. By going directly to the public with television, radio, and electronic print information about the risks of influenza and the ability to reduce this risk with vaccine, Colorado has been able to improve vaccine acceptance rates in all age and risk categories. In fact, Colorado has the highest percentage of immunized elderly in the USA. Flu-like illness reports to the Health Department have decreased and mortality has decreased as well. Thus, when patients themselves are informed about the risks of a disease as well as the best means to obviate that risk, they respond by accepting influenza vaccine in record numbers. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.