Health
Do You Plan on Getting a Flu Shot This Year?
Do You Plan on Getting a Flu Shot This Year?
Here’s The Scoop
A growing number of U.S. adults are expressing hesitancy toward getting recommended vaccines this fall, according to a recent survey. The poll, which included 1,006 participants, revealed that only 43% have received or plan to receive the COVID vaccine, and just 56% are considering the flu shot.
Interestingly, 37% of those who have previously been vaccinated are planning to skip their shots this season. Furthermore, about one-third of respondents believe they don’t need vaccines for flu, COVID, RSV, or pneumococcal pneumonia.
Vaccine hesitancy appears to be more prevalent among younger adults, with those aged 65 and older being the most likely to get immunized. This nationwide survey was conducted by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in mid-August 2024.
These findings come on the heels of the FDA’s approval of updated COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer for the 2024-2025 season. Dr. Nora Colburn, medical director of clinical epidemiology at Ohio State’s Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital, emphasized the importance of vaccinations, especially for older adults, people with chronic medical conditions, and pregnant women, as we enter respiratory virus season.
Dr. Jacob Glanville, CEO of Centivax, a San Francisco biotechnology company, noted that the 37% of people opting out of vaccines this year isn’t surprising. “We just had a vaccine mandate a couple of years ago, and childhood vaccines are very broadly administered, so those 37% are people who wouldn’t be getting a vaccine normally anyway,” he told Fox News Digital.
Glanville also pointed out that the reported 56% rate for the flu shot is slightly above average, as it usually hovers around 50%. He attributed the lower coronavirus vaccination rates to public confusion about post-pandemic treatment and fatigue from vaccines that haven’t been particularly effective at preventing symptoms, even though they do protect against severe illness.
Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, expressed concern over the poll’s findings. “Both vaccines wane over six months, so a yearly booster makes sense for high-risk groups,” he said. Siegel recommends annual boosters for the elderly, immunocompromised, and those with chronic illnesses.
Siegel also warned that the activity of the COVID virus remains high, particularly in the western U.S., and mentioned a new variant circulating in Europe, the XEC subvariant, which is expected to reach the U.S. soon.
Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, highlighted that very young children are being hospitalized at a greater rate, likely because they haven’t been vaccinated with the primary series. He echoed the recommendation for yearly boosters for vulnerable groups and those at risk for long COVID.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued the following vaccine recommendations:
- Flu: Everyone 6 months and older should get vaccinated.
- COVID-19: The latest version is recommended for everyone 6 months and older.
- RSV: Recommended for everyone aged 75 and older, those aged 60 to 74 with chronic medical conditions, and pregnant women during weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy.
- Pneumococcal: Recommended for everyone younger than 5 years and those 65 and older, along with individuals at increased risk of severe disease.
What do you think? Let us know by participating in our poll, or join the discussion in the comment section below!
