According to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, adult vaccination rates for the flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remain low in the United States thus far this season.
According to CDC data, as of Nov. 9, about 18% of U.S. adults had received the new Covid vaccination and an estimated 35% had received the new flu vaccine. Nonetheless, the organization observed that a large number of individuals who were not vaccinated stated that they plan to receive their vaccinations.
According to the article, “vaccination is still possible.”
According to the CDC, the flu vaccination rate as of October was about the same as it was at the same time the previous year. It was anticipated that around 44% of Americans have received a flu vaccination by the end of 2023.
The 15% Covid immunization rate is likewise comparable to that of last November. Everyone six months of age and older should have a Covid and flu vaccination, according to the CDC.
A week after President-elect Donald Trump appointed well-known anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his choice for health and human services secretary, the findings coincide with growing vaccination reluctance in the United States.
Kennedy’s anticipated nomination has raised serious worries among pediatricians, who fear that the decision-making authority he would have over vaccinations might hasten the number of parents who refuse to give their children the doses, which could ultimately result in fatal outbreaks.
According to a recent CDC research, flu, COVID, and RSV can all lead to severe disease, especially in individuals 65 and older and those with specific medical problems. Young children might also be at danger from influenza – there were more than 200 pediatric fatalities during the 2023-2024 season, according to the CDC. Approximately 80% of the kids had not had the flu shot.
Nursing home residents had poor immunization rates, according to a second CDC report issued Thursday. The researchers discovered that as of Nov. 10, just around 3 out of 10 residents at nursing homes had gotten the new Covid vaccine. Additionally, of the respondents who indicated their immunization status, around 18% had received an RSV vaccine and 58% had received a flu shot, which is a lower percentage than at the same time last year.
“More nursing home residents need protection from RSV, COVID-19, and flu,” according to the research. “Nursing home leadership and staff can talk to residents and their loved ones about the benefits and safety of vaccines.”
RSV vaccination rates among nursing home residents have risen from less than 7% in mid-November of last year to over 18% this year, which is the favorable trend mentioned in both papers. According to the CDC, those 75 years of age and older should receive the first RSV vaccination, which was authorized for older adults in 2023.
The RSV vaccine, which is administered as a single dose rather than yearly, is advised for those 60 years of age and older who are at a higher risk of developing a serious disease.
The CDC suggests a vaccination for pregnant women or an antibody injection for newborns to protect infants, who are also at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill from an RSV infection.
According to the CDC, since June, the percentage of RSV vaccination among individuals aged 75 and older has climbed from 30% to over 40%, while the rate among those aged 60 to 74 has increased from 23% to just over 31%.
