The flu season is in full swing, and Poles are more afraid of flu than the coronavirus, according to a survey conducted by the Centre for Public Opinion Research (CBOS) Only among seniors is the fear of getting COVID-19 still strong.

In February, when infections from upper respiratory tract infections are most common in the year, coronavirus infection is feared by less than a third (32 %) of adult Poles, with only 7 % of respondents declaring that they are very afraid of it and 67 % declaring that they are not afraid of the infection. 

The authors of the survey indicate that the level of concern about the possibility of getting infected with coronavirus is decreasing among Polish adults. From March 2020 to May 2021, such fears were declared by a clear majority of respondents, and also in December 2021 and January 2022, there was an increased level of fear. Today, this situation has changed, with more Polish adults declaring that they are more afraid of being infected with influenza than with coronavirus (36 % vs. 32 %).

There are no people among those surveyed who declare that they are very afraid of one virus and not at all afraid of the other. Both viruses are very much feared by one in 20 respondents (5 %), and neither virus is feared at all by 26 % of the total respondents.

It is worth noting that the fear of being infected with both viruses is most differentiated by the age of the respondents. Those aged 65+, and in particular the oldest part of this age group (among those aged 75+, 67 % declare fear in the case of coronavirus), are much more likely to be infected than younger respondents. The oldest in the group (those aged 65+ and especially 75+) are more afraid of being infected with coronavirus than with influenza.

Since May 2020, CBOS has regularly conducted surveys monitoring the level of concern about the possibility of contracting coronavirus. The latest one was carried out from 6 to 19 February on a sample of 982 people.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński