{
  "id": 803212,
  "title": "Influenza, COVID-19 awareness higher than RSV among Canadians, poll says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/influenza-covid-19-awareness-higher-than-rsv-among-canadians-poll-says",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-13T20:05:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Global News",
    "slug": "global-news",
    "url": "https://globalnews.ca/news/12020262/influenza-covid19-rsv-pneumococcal-disease-awareness-data/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent Ipsos poll for Merck Canada reveals that Canadians are more familiar with influenza and COVID-19 than with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and pneumococcal disease (PD). While 98% of Canadians are aware of influenza and 99% are aware of COVID-19, awareness of RSV sits at 71% and PD at 66%. The study suggests there may be room for improvement in educating Canadians about these lesser-known respiratory illnesses and their prevention options.\n\nOut of 1,000 surveyed Canadian adults aged 25 to 75, nearly half (48%) reported not receiving any of the surveyed respiratory vaccines over the past year. Additionally, 64% were uncertain or unlikely to discuss respiratory illnesses and prevention strategies with a healthcare professional within the next six months. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), vaccine rates for COVID-19 and other respiratory infections are declining. In 2024, nearly 60,000 Canadians were hospitalized due to vaccine-preventable respiratory illnesses, with influenza and RSV accounting for more than half of these hospitalizations, and COVID-19 contributing to over 40%.\n\nDespite these concerning trends, 26% of Canadian adults received a COVID-19 vaccine in the fall of 2024. Seniors aged 65 and older had the highest vaccination rates at 54%, while seasonal influenza vaccination coverage was just 33%. The Ipsos study found that 28% of respondents experienced disruptions to personal or professional plans due to respiratory illness in the past year, resulting in 43% missing gatherings with family and friends and 37% using paid sick leave. However, 36% of Canadians indicated they are likely to proactively discuss respiratory illness prevention with a healthcare professional in the coming months, presenting an opportunity to encourage more informed conversations ahead of the respiratory illness season.",
  "summary": "'These findings suggest there may be opportunities to improve understanding of lesser-known respiratory illnesses and available prevention options,' the study says.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Global News",
        "title": "Influenza, COVID-19 awareness higher than RSV among Canadians, poll says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/influenza-covid-19-awareness-higher-than-rsv-among-canadians-poll-says-803837",
        "published": "2026-08-13T20:05:46.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}