Although this year’s flu season could be challenging, fewer adults have been vaccinated against influenza, a new study shows.
Much less than half of US adults have been immunized against any respiratory virus, according to a survey of 1,015 adults released this week by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID).
Just 34% of adults have gotten a flu shot; 25% have had a COVID-19 shot; 8% have received a vaccine to prevent pneumococcal disease, caused by bacteria that can lead to pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis; and 6% have been vaccinated against respiratory syncytial (RSV), a leading cause of hospitalization in infants and older adults.
New data from IQVIA, which provides health care statistics, show similar declines over the past year. Retail pharmacies have seen falling numbers of vaccinations for three major respiratory viruses:
* 34% decline in RSV vaccinations
* 27% drop in COVID-19 vaccinations
* 6% reduction in flu shots
Pneumococcal vaccinations are the one luminous spot in IQVIA’s data, with vaccinations rising 27% in the past year. The uptick is likely due to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) decision last year to lower the age at which people are eligible for pneumococcal vaccine from 65 to 50, said Robert Hopkins, NFID’s medical director.
The NFID survey, conducted online November 10 to November 12, asked people why thay’re hesitant about vaccination.
Among those who haven’t received a flu shot, 16% said they were worried about safety, while 13% said they “never get sick.” For COVID-19, 20% worried about side effects and 12% said no healthcare professional has recommended vaccination.
Differing views on vaccines by age, political party
The survey also sheds light on where people get their facts on vaccination.
About 44% of people said that they trust their health care provider more than anyone else to provide vaccine information; only 13% of all respondents listed the CDC as their top source.
Younger generations are less likely be guided by public health institutions and more likely to look to their phones. Fifteen percent of Gen Z adults (ages 18 to 28) rank social media as their second most-trusted source of vaccine information.
The poll also found political differences about vaccination.
Democrats were more likely than republicans or independents to receive an updated flu or COVID-19 shot. Forty-one percent of Democrats received a recent flu shot, compared with 35% of Republicans and 22% of Independents. Thirty-four percent of Democrats received an updated COVID-19 shot, compared with 20% of Republicans and 19% of Independents.
‘Historic low levels of trust’ could be deadly
“We’re seeing historic low levels of trust in public health, and that is perhaps deadly,” said Tom Frieden, MD, MPH, former CDC director and founder and CEO of Resolve to Save lives, a global public health organization.
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