A recent survey by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases reveals that vaccination rates for COVID-19 and the flu have seen a decline. Furthermore, a significant portion of the U.S. population has expressed disinterest in getting vaccinated this year.
Only approximately 20 percent of Americans have expressed concern about themselves or their families getting infected with the flu, COVID-19, or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
About 43 percent of adults have stated that they do not plan to get vaccinated against the flu or are uncertain about it. Only 40 percent have indicated their intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19, and among individuals aged 60 years and older, only 40 percent plan to get vaccinated against RSV.
Survey respondents who expressed hesitancy towards vaccination cited concerns about side effects, vaccine distrust, and a belief that vaccines are not effective.
In a press briefing announcing the survey results, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Mandy Cohen revealed that only 47 percent of U.S. adults received a flu vaccine during the previous respiratory season, down from 49 percent the year before.
Cohen emphasized the importance of vaccination against the flu and COVID-19 this season, urging everyone aged 6 months and older to get vaccinated. She also highlighted CDC data showing that vaccines prevented over 66,000 flu-related hospitalizations last year.
Cohen noted that 97 percent of hospitalized flu patients had at least one underlying condition, while only 58 percent of adults with a chronic health condition received the flu vaccine.
Older adults were more likely to receive the flu vaccine compared to younger adults: 35 percent of adults aged 18-49 years, 50 percent of adults aged 50-64, and 70 percent of adults aged 65 or older.
However, flu vaccination rates dropped among children, pregnant individuals, and healthcare providers. Vaccination coverage for pregnant people was 47 percent, significantly lower than the pre-pandemic rate of 58 percent.
Only 27 percent of women reported receiving a COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccine before or during pregnancy.
Among children aged 6 months to 17 years, flu vaccination rates remained consistent with the previous season but lower than before the pandemic.
Cohen expects the upcoming respiratory virus season to be less severe than the previous year, when hospitals, particularly pediatric units, reached full capacity due to the simultaneous increase in flu, RSV, and COVID-19 cases.
Cohen and other health officials have been promoting the updated COVID-19 shots and the first-ever shots to prevent RSV in adults aged 60 and older.
She acknowledged that some states and localities have implemented additional requirements for the RSV shot, such as the need for a prescription, but insurance companies are obligated to cover it.
Shots for infants will soon be available from the manufacturer, Cohen announced.
“It’s exciting that we have these tools. We need to utilize them,” Cohen emphasized.
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