Abstract
BackgroundDuring the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, the global health community sought to make vaccine available “in developing nations in the same timeframe as developed nations.” However, richer nations placed advance orders with manufacturers, leaving poorer nations dependent on the quantity and timing of vaccine donations by manufacturers and rich nations. Knowledge of public support for timely donations could be important to policy makers during the next pandemic. We explored what the United States (US) public believes about vaccine donation by its country to poorer countries.Methods and FindingsWe surveyed 2079 US adults between January 22nd and February 1st 2010 about their beliefs regarding vaccine donation to poorer countries. Income (p = 0.014), objective priority status (p = 0.005), nativity, party affiliation, and political ideology (p<0.001) were significantly related to views on the amount of vaccine to be donated. Though party affiliation and political ideology were related to willingness to donate vaccine (p<0.001), there was bipartisan support for timely donations of 10% of the US vaccine supply so that those “at risk in poorer countries can get the vaccine at the same time” as those at risk in the US.ConclusionsWe suggest that the US and other developed nations would do well to bolster support with education and public discussion on this issue prior to an emerging pandemic when emotional reactions could potentially influence support for donation. We conclude that given our evidence for bipartisan support for timely donations, it may be necessary to design multiple arguments, from utilitarian to moral, to strengthen public and policy makers' support for donations.
Highlights
The first few cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza were detected in Mexico and California in April 2009
We conclude that given our evidence for bipartisan support for timely donations, it may be necessary to design multiple arguments, from utilitarian to moral, to strengthen public and policy makers’ support for donations
The virus rapidly spread around the world and a pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11th June 2009 [1]
Summary
The first few cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza were detected in Mexico and California in April 2009. With the advent of the pandemic, significant attention turned to the timely production of vaccine to prevent morbidity and mortality and the first vaccines became available in the United States (US) in October 2009 [2]. The WHO director-general called for ‘‘international solidarity to provide fair and equitable access to pandemic influenza vaccines for all countries’’ [1,3]. Equitable global access to vaccines in a pandemic is dependent on the number of doses accessible, and the timing of access to vaccines. During the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, the global health community sought to make vaccine available ‘‘in developing nations in the same timeframe as developed nations.’’ richer nations placed advance orders with manufacturers, leaving poorer nations dependent on the quantity and timing of vaccine donations by manufacturers and rich nations. We explored what the United States (US) public believes about vaccine donation by its country to poorer countries
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
