Manitobans continue to lag in flu vaccination rates

Vaccination rates are lowest among the youngest Manitobans
Overall, 32% of Manitobans reported that they received a flu vaccination this past flu season, that is, between
September 2015 and March 2016. According to Statistics Canada data, this result places Manitoba behind all other
provinces — except for Quebec (24%) and Newfoundland/Labrador (28%) — in flu vaccination rates. The Manitoba
vaccination rate also varies dramatically with age, as those under 40 largely avoided the flu vaccination. For those under
40, the vaccination rate was around 15%. Among those 65 and older, the rate jumps to 65%.
Vaccination rate by age
April 2016 %
(n = 791)
15%
16%
31%
65%

18 to 29
30 to 39
40 to 64
65 and older
Note: These represent statistically significant differences among age groups.

The family doctor remains the place of choice for receiving the flu shot
Among those who received the flu shot this past
Where did you receive the flu shot this year?
flu season, family doctors delivered 36% of all
Family doctor
36%
flu vaccinations, followed by pharmacies (19%)
Pharmacy
and community centres/churches (18%). This
19%
year saw large numbers of pharmacists
Community centre or church
18%
offering the flu shot, but it is not possible to
Walk-in clinic
9%
determine at this point whether this source of
Workplace
6%
vaccination will become more important in the
future.
Flu clinic 4%
Hospital
Quick-care clinic
Seniors or assisted living centre

© PRA Inc.

4%
2%
1%

Other

1%

Don't know / no response

<1%

1

 Most people just did not “get around to it”
Most people just could not be
bothered to get a flu shot (37%) or
didn’t think it was necessary
(28%). Almost a fifth of
respondents had either heard of
or personally experienced a bad
reaction to previous flu shots.
Some 13% thought that the flu
vaccine is ineffective, and 12%
declined to offer a reason for not
being vaccinated this year.

What is your reason for not getting vaccinated this year?
37%

Didn't get around to it

28%

Don't need it
Heard about or
experienced bad reactions

18%

Don't think they will work

13%

No reason

12%

PRA Inc. sponsored these questions independently. No other organization, public or private,
funded this study in whole or in part.
For more information about the research, please contact
Nicholas Borodenko, Partner, at borodenko@pra.ca
(204) 594-2080 or toll-free at 1-888-877-6744

METHODOLOGY
PRA interviews adult Winnipeggers by telephone, using random digit dialling to select individuals.
This allows the inclusion of individuals with unlisted or new telephone numbers, ensuring a
random sample with the best possible representation of eligible respondents.
Survey dates
Sample size
Approximate maximum error

April 11–May 4, 2016
791
+ 3.5%, 19 times out of 20

As any sample may not represent the population perfectly, PRA corrects statistically for
discrepancies in gender, age, and region to ensure the sample corresponds as closely as possible
to Statistics Canada information.

© PRA Inc.

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