[Influenza vaccination: was it relevant to use fear?].

The rightfulness and relevance of the use of fear appeals in prevention are not debated in France. However, it seems that the recent failure of the H1N1 influenza vaccination, following many political and journalistic speeches mainly focused on the fear of the illness and its consequences, should challenge policy-makers about the choice of this communication means. Other methods, founded on the results of an "emotional epidemiology" of the epidemic and based on community health approaches, could have been usefully applied.