Table 3

Ranking of reasons for and against vaccination in season 2006/07 (First six ranks)

Motivations for getting vaccinated
UK
Germany
Italy
France
Spain
All

(n = 509)
(n = 549)
(n = 488)
(n = 485)
(n = 435)
(n = 2465)

Rank (%)
Rank (%)
Rank (%)
Rank (%)
Rank (%)
Rank (%)

My family doctor/nurse advised me to do it
1 (60)
2 (71)
1 (43)
3 (34)
1 (44)
1 (51)
Because the flu is a serious illness and I did not want to get it
2 (50)
1 (90)
2 (24)
3 (34)
2 (37)
2 (48)
Because of my age
3 (42)
5 (39)
5 (15)
2 (37)
3 (30)
3 (33)
Because I am not in very good health
4 (32)
6 (31)
3 (23)
6 (15)
4 (21)
6 (25)
So I do not pass the flu bug to my family/friends
5 (32)
3 (69)
4 (17)
5 (17)
5 (19)
5 (32)
Because the social security system pays for it
6 (29)
4 (46)
6 (6)
1 (47)
6 (19)
4 (30)


Reasons for not getting vaccinated (among those never vaccinated)
UK
Germany
Italy
France
Spain
All

(n = 1183)
(n = 900)
(n = 1338)
(n = 1291)
(n = 1289)
(n = 6001)

Rank (%)
Rank (%)
Rank (%)
Rank (%)
Rank (%)
Rank (%)

I do not think I am very likely to catch the flu
3 (33)
1 (48)
2 (22)
3 (18)
1 (63)
1 (36)
I have never considered it before
2 (35)
6 (31)
1 (38)
2 (21)
2 (43)
2 (34)
My family doctor did not recommend it to me
1 (38)
4 (39)
4 (14)
4 (17)
3 (25)
3 (26)
I am too young to be vaccinated
4 (32)

5 (12)
1 (35)
4 (18)
4 (22)
It is not a serious enough illness

3 (40)
3 (17)

6 (11)
5 (18)
I don't like injections/needles



6 (11)
5 (13)
6 (14)
My doctor at work has never recommended it to me
5 (21)





My pharmacist has never recommended it to me
6 (21)
5 (33)




I thought about it but I didn't end up getting vaccinated

2 (47)




I don't think the vaccine is effective enough


5 (12)



It is too expensive/not reimbursed



5 (17)



Blank et al. BMC Public Health 2008 8:272   doi:10.1186/1471-2458-8-272