Impact of COVID-19 Vaccine Concerns on Flu-Shot Rates

As flu season approaches, health authorities are urging individuals aged 6 months and older to receive their annual flu vaccinations. Last flu season, less than half of all US adults (47.4%) received the flu vaccine, but this rate was slightly higher than the previous year (45.4%).

Vaccination against the flu is crucial to protect individuals and communities and to prevent further strain on healthcare systems. According to preliminary CDC estimates, individuals vaccinated against the flu last season were 40% to 70% less likely to be hospitalized due to flu-related illness or complications.

While adult vaccination rates have remained relatively steady throughout the ongoing pandemic, other age groups have seen declines in flu vaccination rates.

Decline in Vaccination Rates for Pregnant People and Children

• Protection against the flu among pregnant individuals has dropped by over 16 percentage points since 2020, with 48.9% vaccinated as of spring 2023, compared to 65.5% at the beginning of the pandemic.

• Among children under 18, the flu vaccination rate was approximately 55% in April 2023, down from 62% at the pandemic’s outset.

Higher Vaccination Rates in Older Adults

• Nearly 75% of adults aged 65 and older were vaccinated against the flu in the last spring.

• A little over 50% of adults aged 50 to 64 received the flu vaccine.

• However, only 36% of adults aged 18 to 49 received a flu vaccine.

Impact of COVID-19 Vaccine Rates

• When the COVID-19 vaccine was initially available to the public in early 2021, approximately 80% of adults received their initial series of vaccinations.

• Only 20% of adults received last year’s COVID-19 booster vaccine.

Factors Contributing to Vaccine Skepticism

• Vaccine hesitancy may be driven by fear of the unknown. Pharmacist Helen Maser noted that education plays a crucial role in dispelling vaccine fears.

• A UCLA study from 2022 found that states with low COVID-19 vaccine rates also experienced declines in adult flu vaccination rates. Mistrust in the vaccine, concerns about side effects, and a lack of trust in the government were cited as factors contributing to decreased vaccine rates.

• Misinformation about COVID-19 and the vaccine led to mistrust in public health expert recommendations, and government officials’ conflicting stances on booster shots further exacerbated distrust.

Preparing for Flu Season

• September and October are the recommended months for most people to receive their flu vaccine, although vaccination should continue throughout the flu season, which can extend into February, March, or later, depending on influenza activity.

• It is safe to receive a flu and COVID-19 vaccine simultaneously, according to experts, and this practice was common during the last two flu seasons.