50% OF BRITISH PARENTS PLAN TO REFUSE SWINE FLU VACCINE, NEW SURVEY REVEALS

29 September 2009

50% of British parents will refuse the swine flu vaccine for their children or themselves when it is offered, a new poll has revealed.

The survey, by earn-as-you-shop website KidStart, found that just 28% of parents will accept the vaccine for both themselves and their children, while 15% would have the vaccine themselves and only 7% would give it to their kids without having it themselves.

Last week drug safety watchdogs recommended three vaccines for licensing, including the one most likely to be used in the UK. It has also been revealed that 1000 youngsters from six months to 12 years are being recruited across the UK to take part in a swine flu vaccine trial over the next fortnight to see which one works best.

‘This survey shows that even though it is going to be thoroughly tested, the majority of British parents are incredibly nervous about the swine flu vaccine,’ said Clare Scott Dryden of KidStart. ‘They would not want their children to take part in the drug trials, and they clearly feel that despite widespread predictions of a swine flu epidemic, the threat is not as great a risk to their children’s health as having the vaccine, which is clearly very worrying. But following on from the case of the 14-year-old schoolgirl who died after having the cervical cancer jab, parental anxiety about the swine flu vaccine has been heightened, which is understandable.’

Dr Clare Heggie from www.kidstart.co.uk/livingwithkids, added: ‘It’s important to remember that the risks of not having the vaccine far outweigh the risks of having it.’



 

About KidStart
Launched in 2008, www.kidstart.co.uk is a free shopping club that rewards families with money for their children whenever they shop at a wide range of retailers and service companies. KidStart offers money back on online purchases at over 350 big-brand retailers, from Mothercare and Argos through to Boden and Debenhams, meaning you can do virtually all of your online shopping through KidStart. In addition, families can earn cash savings for their kids at over 250 High Street locations by shopping at any JoJo Maman Bébé, Goldsmiths and other retailers. KidStart is not a typical loyalty programme. There are no points, no membership cards, no hassle, no catches, and no hidden charges. Just cash, for kids, for free - it's simple.

> Back to KidStart Press