An even greater number of Americans than last year say they don’t plan to vaccinate themselves against COVID-19 or flu this year despite warnings from health experts about severe risks, according to the results of a new survey. Addressing misconceptions about vaccines and vaccination is critical to addressing health needs, especially for older adults and other at-risk populations, they said.
“We must build trust by enhancing our support for people in using science and evidence to make personally appropriate decisions regarding vaccines and other health choices,” Reed V. Tuckson, MD, co-founder of the Black Coalition Against COVID and chair of the board of the Coalition for Trust in Health & Science, said in a statement. Evidence-based messaging from familiar, trusted healthcare professionals is essential to building people’s confidence in vaccines, he added.
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases released the results of its annual survey of US adults on Wednesday, along with sharing previously announced vaccination recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The survey revealed that fewer than one in five US adults are concerned about flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus or pneumococcal disease, and many don’t plan to get vaccinated.
“Vaccines are not just a shield against illness. They are an important tool in our public health efforts,” said NFID Medical Director Robert H. Hopkins Jr., MD.
RSV vaccination rates for older adults was only 24% during the 2023-2024 respiratory season. According to the NFID survey, only 21% of adults aged 75 or more years and adults aged 60 to 74 years with certain risk factors indicated that they intend to get that vaccine this year.
RSV vaccines currently are recommended for all adults aged 75 or more years as well as adults aged 60 to 74 years who have certain risk factors.
Among older adults and people with other risk factors for whom pneumococcal vaccinations are recommended, 25% said they already have been vaccinated this year, and 44% said they planned to get vaccinated. Pneumococcal vaccines are recommended for all adults aged 65 or more years as well those with certain chronic health conditions, including heart disease, lung disease (asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), kidney or liver disease, diabetes, sickle cell disease, or other conditions and treatments that weaken the immune system.
The numbers were more promising for the flu vaccine. Seventy-six percent of adults aged 65 or more years said they plan to get a flu vaccine, compared with 48% of adults aged 18 to 64 years. Older adults are more likely than younger adults to report that they will get a flu vaccine because they want to protect themselves (87% versus 72%), because their doctor recommends it (70% versus 39%), and to avoid severe complications, including hospitalization and death (70% versus 44%)
Half of adults aged 65 or more years said they would get a flu and COVID-19 vaccine at the same time, an increase from 41% in 2023.
“Flu and COVID-19 can be serious diseases with potentially life-threatening consequences and long-term risks,” said Demetre C. Daskalakis, MD, MPH, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at CDC. “Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are now available and are the best protection we have, and it’s safe to get both vaccines at the same time.”
Of survey respondents at higher risk for COVID-19-related complications, including adults aged 65 or more years and those with a chronic health condition, 51% said they planned to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine.
Few concerned
After a summer wave of COVID-19 activity and a record number of flu deaths during the 2023-2024 respiratory season, the new NFID survey results show that, overall, only 38% of adults plan to get a flu vaccine, despite 67% agreeing that annual vaccination is the most effective way to prevent hospitalizations and deaths from flu.
Overall, few US adults said they are concerned about themselves or a family member getting infected with flu (17%), COVID-19 (20%), RSV (16%) or pneumococcal disease (17%).
The NFID survey data showed that vaccine confidence plays a major role in vaccination intent for flu, COVID-19, RSV and pneumococcal disease. Many who said they do not plan to get vaccinated said they are worried about potential side effects or have a general distrust of vaccines, demonstrating an “urgent need” for greater awareness and education about vaccines, the experts said.
The NFID surveyor attitudes and behaviors toward respiratory vaccinations was conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago among 1,100 adults aged 18 or more years.
