A new survey finds that about six out of 10 Canadians aged 12 and over did not get the vaccine against H1N1 flu last winter, with many saying they simply didn't think they needed it.

The figures released by Statistics Canada Thursday show that 41 per cent of Canadians got the vaccination, which translates into about 11.6 million people. (The tally didn't include the territories.) Almost 60 per cent didn't get the shot.

Still, the percentage of Canadians vaccinated for H1N1 exceeded the 32 per cent who got a seasonal flu shot in 2007 and 2008.

Two-thirds of health-care workers got the pandemic vaccine, as did 55 per cent of individuals with chronic conditions that put them at increased risk of complications.

The survey found that 74 per cent of those who didn't get the vaccination said they "did not think it was necessary."

The second most common reason cited by respondents, who were surveyed between January and April, 2010, was that they "had not gotten around to it yet."

Another seven per cent gave the reason "fear," although the nature of the fear was not specified.

Males were more likely to say they didn't think the H1N1 flu shot was necessary, while women were more likely to mention fear as a reason for not getting vaccinated.

The survey authors say the information about who did and did not get vaccinated against H1N1 will help in the evaluation of the vaccination program, "and help target messages about vaccination in the event of another pandemic."

The survey polled more than 20,000 Canadians as part of the broader Canadian Community Health Survey.

Among the survey's other findings:

  • Newfoundland and Labrador had the highest rates of vaccination (69 per cent )
  • Ontario had the lowest rate (32 per cent)
  • 76 per cent of Canadians who had had the seasonal flu shot within the last year compared with 28 per cent of those who had never had a flu shot
  • 44 per cent of Canadians with a regular family doctor were vaccinated, compared with 26 per cent of those without a regular doctor

  • Immigrants were less likely than non-immigrants to have been vaccinated: 38 per cent versus 42 per cent