H1N1 (Swine Flu) Preparedness October 2009 Poll Report Date: October 14, 2009 May 2009 telephone survey of 1,004 U.S. Adults 18 years and older on May 1-4, 2009 conducted by CARAVAN® Opinion Research Corporation. Margin of error is +/- 3.1 percent at the 95% confidence level. July 2009 telephone survey of 1,002 U.S. Adults 18 years and older on July 17-20, 2009 conducted by CARAVAN® Opinion Research Corporation. Margin of error is +/- 3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. October 2009 telephone survey of 1,005 U.S. Adults 18 years and older on October 8-11, 2009 conducted by CARAVAN® Opinion Research Corporation. Margin of error is +/- 3.1 percent at the 95% confidence level Communication Department Research & Public Inquiry

Concern about exposure to swine flu remains high, with nearly half of Americans somewhat or very worried. How worried are you that you or someone in your family will be exposed to this flu – very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not worried at all? Women are more likely to be very worried than men (17% versus 8%)

Half of Americans are wondering if this new swine flu shot is safe. Which of the following issues are you concerned about? Are you concerned about. . . Women are more concerned about the safety of the swine flu shot than men (60% versus 44%) and more concerned about getting information they can trust (49% versus 38%).

Roughly seven in ten Americans are confident they could take time off from work, have the right supplies at home and know what flu symptoms signal a need to go to a hospital. If you had to care for a loved one who had this new flu, are you confident that you. . . There are no gender differences for this question.

Many more Americans are taking precautions to protect themselves and others from swine flu. Have you taken any of the following actions to protect yourself and others from this new flu? Have you . . . NOTE: 1,004 responses for May 2009, 500 responses for October 2009.

The precautions that people intended to take in July closely match the precautions they are taking in October. July: Which of the following actions are you taking or planning on taking to protect yourself and others from this new flu? October: Have you taken any of the following actions to protect yourself and others from this new flu? Have you . . . NOTE: 1,002 responses for July 2009, 500 responses for October 2009.

Women are taking the risk of swine flu more seriously than men. Have you taken any of the following actions to protect yourself and others from this new flu? Have you . . . NOTE: 500 responses for October 2009.

Roughly half of Americans have made sure they have enough food, water and medicine so they could stay home for two weeks if necessary. Have you taken any of the following actions to prepare for possible impacts to the swine flu? Have you . . . Note: Only the first item was asked in the May 2009 poll. In the July 09 poll, 46% intended to make sure they had enough food, water and medicine so they could stay home for up to two weeks if that was necessary.

Four in ten Americans are currently planning on getting a flu shot for this new flu. Percentages for “Are you planning on having your child or children get a flue shot for this new flu?” are based on the number of respondents who had children. Percentage is based on the 644 respondents who had children. Women were more likely than men to have gotten their regular seasonal flu shot (35% versus 26%) In the July 2009 poll, 62% reported they were planning on getting a flu shot if one were available.

In the past two months, in one in five households, someone has gone to work or school when they were sick. In one in ten households, someone has gone to work or school within five days of starting to have flu symptoms. In the PAST TWO MONTHS, has anyone in your household done any of the following?

Nearly seven in ten Americans want more information about how to teach children to wash their hands carefully. Six in ten Americans feel that they need more information about how to care for someone with the flu. On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is “not important at all” and 5 is “very important,” how important is it to you to have more information about the following subjects? Table shows the top two boxes, the percentage who selected 5 (Very important) or 4.

Women are more interested in flu-related information than men. On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is “not important at all” and 5 is “very important,” how important is it to you to have more information about the following subjects? Table shows the top two boxes, the percentage who selected 5 (Very important) or 4.

People are getting information from many sources about how to avoid or prepare for the flu. Over the PAST THREE MONTHS, did you see, read or hear something about how to avoid and prepare for this new flu from any of the following individuals or organizations?

Television and newspapers were the most common sources of information about how to avoid and prepare for this new flu. Over the PAST THREE MONTHS, did you get any information on how to avoid and prepare for this new flu from any of the following media sources? 26% got information from a website.

Half of Americans are interested in learning more about Red Cross training and products that can help them prepare for a variety of emergencies. How interested are you in learning more about American Red Cross training and products that can help you prepare for a variety of emergencies, such as this new flu? Would you say you are. . . Women were most likely to be very interested in learning more about Red Cross training and products (22% versus 12%)

One in five Americans knows someone who has had this new flu. Do you personally know anyone who has had this new flu? Women are more likely than men to know someone who has had swine flu (26% versus 18%)