2009-10-14-皮尤-Growing_Interest_in_Swine_Flu,_Many_See_Press_Overstating_its_Danger_12页_59kb

Public interest in swine flu and vaccine news reached record highs in early 2009, with nearly 38% following it closely, comparable to interest in the health care debate. This marked a return to levels last seen in spring 2009.

Fewer than half (46%) of Americans believed news reports on swine flu's danger were accurate; 43% felt the danger was overstated, and opinions varied by party affiliation, with Republicans less likely to trust news coverage.

Vaccine uptake was uncertain, with 47% willing to get vaccinated if available, driven by factors like age, education, and political leaning (e.g., Democrats favored it more). Over half would not get vaccinated, citing safety concerns as primary reasons, including perceived risks from the vaccine or distrust in immunizations.

Government confidence was moderately high, with 64% expressing some confidence overall, and Democrats and independents more likely to trust the government's handling of the swine flu.

Other news topics included the U.S. economy and Afghanistan military efforts, which saw steady interest but not as high as swine flu or health care; the economy was viewed mainly as having a mix of good and bad news, with less optimistic views.

The report highlighted a disparity between news coverage focus (e.g., Afghanistan receiving more media attention initially) and public interest, as well as demographic and partisan differences in perception.