According to a poll released by the Harvard School of Public Health, only 40% of those polled said they were sure they would take the H1N1 vaccine and about half said their children would take the vaccine. Independent research conducted by the University of Michigan and Consumer Reports reached similar conclusions.

Many people cited reluctance to be a guinea pig for a new vaccine as a reason to avoid the H1N1 shot. Many people are concerned that the vaccine will not be safe for children. Others said they don’t believe the swine flu is a serious illness.

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirm that everyone age 6 months to age 24, those who care for babies younger than 6 months, pregnant women, health care workers and adults with health conditions such as asthma and diabetes are priorities for receiving the vaccine. These individuals are either most at risk of serious consequences if they contract swine flu or are most likely to spread the virus.