Up to four times more Americans are planning to avoid getting the updated Covid booster vaccine this fall compared to last year, despite guidance from the White House urging everyone to receive it. Researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation in California found that a majority of adults—52 percent—stated that they ‘definitely’ or ‘probably’ would not get the new shot. In comparison, only 12 percent of respondents surveyed at the same time last year said they ‘definitely’ would not get that year’s booster, while another 18 percent said they would ‘wait and see’. Among parents, 66 percent said they would not have their children get the vaccine this winter, compared to 50 percent who said they would avoid the bivalent shot last year.
The updated Covid shots have been recommended for everyone over six months old, despite limited evidence of their benefits for younger adults and children. Last year, approximately 115 million bivalent Covid booster vaccines went to waste, costing the federal government billions of dollars. However, this year, health insurance companies are covering the costs. A recent poll conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation in California revealed that the majority of Americans are not planning to get the updated Covid booster vaccine this year. Results showed that individuals over 65 who voted Democrat were most likely to get the vaccine, while younger adults at lower risk of severe disease and those who voted Republican were less likely to get vaccinated. Additionally, most parents stated that they will not get the updated Covid booster vaccine for their children. Last year, only 12 percent of American adults said they were not planning to get the updated Covid booster vaccine, and 50 percent of parents said they would not have their children take the shot.
The KFF poll, which was carried out last month and involved a nationally-representative sample of 1,300 adults, revealed that 33 percent of adults said they ‘definitely’ would not get the updated vaccine, while 19 percent said they ‘probably’ would not get it. Less than a quarter (23 percent) stated that they ‘probably’ will get the shot, and another 23 percent said they ‘definitely’ will get vaccinated. The results also showed that individuals over 65 who voted Democrat were most likely to get the vaccine, whereas younger adults at lower risk of severe Covid and those who voted Republican were less likely to say they would get vaccinated. Those aged 18 to 29 were the least likely to get the vaccine. Additionally, almost four in 10 individuals who had previously been vaccinated stated that they were not planning to get the shot this year. The survey also found that more adults were planning to get the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) shots compared to the Covid vaccine. Among the respondents, 58 percent said they had already received or were planning to get the flu shot, and 60 percent of adults aged 60 and over said they would get the RSV vaccine.
This year is the first time an RSV vaccine has been made available for adults over 60 years old, after the FDA approved the shot Arexvy for use. RSV kills an estimated 10,000 adults every year, primarily older individuals. In comparison, the flu kills 52,000 individuals. The updated Covid boosters this year, from Pfizer and Moderna, use mRNA to provide protection against variants that were circulating over the summer. New variants such as EG.5 and BA.2.86 have caused concern due to evidence suggesting they are the most infectious strains to date, with EG.5 currently the dominant variant in the US. The updated vaccines target the XBB.1.5 variants, which now account for only a small proportion of cases, but tests have shown that they should still provide protection against the currently circulating strains.
The CDC has recommended the vaccine for everyone aged six months and older, although a top FDA advisor stated that it is only necessary for those aged 75 and older. Dr. Paul Offit, a pediatrician, has previously stated that younger adults do not need the vaccine because they are already at low risk for severe disease. Furthermore, nearly all Americans now have some level of immunity against Covid from either vaccination or previous infection. The recent wave of Covid cases last month, which caused alarm, is already receding. Official data indicated that there were 19,079 Covid hospital admissions nationwide during the week ending September 23, down three percent from the previous week. The positivity rate for Covid tests also decreased by one percent in a week, reaching 11.6 percent positivity during the week ending September 23. Fatalities during the same week decreased to 607 from 1,005 the previous week.
In contrast to last year, the federal government is not covering the costs for the new Covid boosters; instead, health insurance companies are responsible. Last year’s booster drive cost the Biden administration an estimated $4.5 billion, with 171 million doses purchased. However, CDC data shows that out of these doses, only 56 million were administered, while the remaining 115 million doses, costing $3.05 billion, were thrown away. The cost estimates are based on a March 2023 report suggesting that the government purchased 105 million doses of Pfizer’s vaccine at $30.48 per dose, and 66 million Moderna shots at a cost of $26.36 per dose. Since the rollout began this year, many individuals have reported difficulties in getting appointments or having to pay up to $200 out-of-pocket for the vaccine.
One such individual affected by these challenges is Eric Allix Rogers, 38, from Chicago, who ended up paying $155.99 for his updated Covid vaccine after his insurance plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield, did not cover the shot. Mr. Rogers decided to pay out-of-pocket instead of waiting for his insurance plan to update because he had a severe case of Covid in 2021 and did not want to take the risk. He expressed frustration, stating that the situation should not be so complicated. Additionally, there have been delays in vaccine supplies, resulting in hundreds of people being placed on waiting lists at some clinics.
Compared to other countries that have only offered Covid boosters to older adults, the US stands out in recommending them for younger age groups. Doctors in the US explain that this recommendation is due to the country’s healthcare model, with a blanket recommendation needed to ensure that health insurance companies cover the costs. In contrast, the UK is rolling out Covid boosters only to adults aged 65 years and older, as they are considered the group most at risk for severe disease. Lastly, it is worth noting that last year, the CDC also recommended the Covid booster for everyone aged six months and older.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
