More than half of Britons being offered vaccination against pandemic H1N1 flu are turning it down because they fear side-effects or think the virus is too mild to bother.

A survey of more than 100 family doctors indicated that there was widespread resistance from patients, and that on average only 46 percent of those offered the vaccination agree to have it.

Doctors reported particular difficulties in persuading pregnant women to be vaccinated against the virus.

Skepticism has been growing in Britain and other European countries about health authorities' handling of the H1N1 pandemic, because the number of people infected has been lower than originally feared.