Seven of ten Swedes want swine flu jab

More than seventy percent of Swedes are considering taking the vaccination against the new A/H1N1 influenza if the vaccine is approved, a new Skop survey commissioned by the Swedish Health and Welfare Board (Socialstyrelsen) has shown.

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The board welcomed the news and confirmed on Thursday that all of the local health authorities across Sweden had followed its advice to purchase sufficient stocks of the vaccine to treat the entire population.

In total Sweden has ordered 18 million doses - two per person.

The survey indicates a broad support for taking the vaccine among Swedes with 72 percent responding that they planned to accept the vaccine, which the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKL) has recommended should be offered free of charge.

"It is naturally pleasing that as many as 72 percent are thinking of getting the vaccination. By being vaccinated you don't only protect yourself - you also help to protect others from becoming sick," Anders Tegnell at the board said in a statement on Thursday.

Those aged 25-34-years-old were reportedly less inclined to vaccinate themselves with 66 percent answering in the affirmative, in comparison to 78 percent of those aged 18-24.

At the same time only 8 percent of Swedes are overly concerned by the risk of being infected with the new influenza.

63 percent responded in the survey that they are well-informed about the virus with those aged 45-64 being the most up to date.

One in five Swedes has reported that they have actively researched information about the A/H1N1 virus with women slightly higher represented (23 percent) than men.

72 percent of those surveyed responded that the most important measure to prevent infection and the spread of the flu is to wash your hands regularly.

Skop interviewed 2,000 people between July 27th and August 23rd about the new influenza.

"We consider this survey to be useful basic data for county councils to use in their work to communicate information around the vaccine," Anders Tegnell said.