New Poll Shows Americans Are Skipping Vaccines This Fall—Here’s Why It Matters

Nora Colburn, MD

Credit: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

A national survey by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center shows 37% of past vaccine recipients do not plan to get vaccinated this year, raising concerns as flu season approaches and COVID-19 cases increase.

The data was published following the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s recent approval of updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to include a component linked to the Omicron variant KP.2 strain of the virus. The new formulas are designed to target the current variants and offer better protection against serious outcomes of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death.

“Vaccination continues to be the cornerstone of COVID-19 prevention,” Peter Marks, MD, PhD, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a news release announcing the update.

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center used the SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus platform to survey 1,006 people nationwide between August 16 – 18, 2024. The survey was administered in English and data was collected from patients via the internet and telephone.

Results revealed 37% of respondents have been vaccinated in the past but do not plan to this year. The same percentage of participants said they don’t believe they need any of the vaccines included in the survey, including COVID-19, flu, pneumococcal and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

A little more than half (56%) of adults have either already received or plan to get their flu shot this fall. This percentage is higher than respondents who have either gotten or plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine specifically (43%). Adults who are the most likely to receive the recommended vaccines were people aged 65 years and older.

“We’re at the start of respiratory virus season when you have the triple threat of flu, COVID-19 and RSV,” said Nora Colburn, MD, medical director of clinical epidemiology at Ohio State’s Richard M Ross Heart Hospital, in a statement. “Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation about vaccinations, but the reality is that they are safe and highly effective in preventing serious illness and death. Older adults, people with certain chronic medical conditions and those who are pregnant are especially at risk during respiratory virus season.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers specific recommendations for vaccines:

• Flu: Annual vaccination for individuals aged 6 months and older (ideally by the end of October)
• COVID-19: An updated vaccination for individuals aged 6 months and older
• RSV: All adults aged 75 years and older, those aged 60 – 74 years who are at an increased risk of severe disease—including people with certain chronic health conditions like diabetes, asthma, or heart and lung disease—and pregnant women during weeks 32 – 36 of pregnancy from September to January
• Pneumococcal: Individuals aged younger than 5 years and aged 65 years and older. It is also recommended for people with an increased risk of severe disease.

“Vaccinations play a critical role in helping keep individuals and communities healthy,” Colburn explained. “Other things you can do is to stay home when sick, avoid those who are sick and wear a mask if you’re not feeling well and going out of your home. All of these things can help prevent you from getting sick and spreading it to others.”

Additional recommendations for reducing exposure to viruses during the flu season include regular hand washing and improving air quality by purifying indoor air and opening windows to bring fresh outside air into the home.