To date only a few Individuals have been rolling up their sleeves to get vaccinated towards COVID, flu or RSV.
ROB SCHMITZ, HOST:
As the vacation and the winter respiratory virus season strategy, most individuals nonetheless haven’t gotten vaccinated towards the flu or COVID-19. NPR well being correspondent Rob Stein joins us now to speak about why and what this implies. Hey, Rob.
ROB STEIN, BYLINE: Hey, Rob.
SCHMITZ: So let’s begin with the numbers. How many individuals have gotten vaccinated up to now this 12 months?
STEIN: It is not wanting good. Based on the newest information from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, solely a few third of adults have gotten this 12 months’s flu shot. And even fewer – lower than 18% – have gotten one of many up to date COVID boosters. Lower than half of adults ages 75 and older have gotten the brand new RSV vaccine. Even fewer youthful adults, who’re additionally liable to getting actually sick from RSV, have gotten that shot. These flu and COVID numbers are somewhat higher than this time final 12 months, however far decrease than wanted to guard most individuals in danger. And, you recognize, Rob, most worrying – most nursing residence residents have not gotten a COVID booster and solely 58% have gotten a flu shot. They usually’re the oldsters at highest threat of getting actually sick or dying from the flu and COVID. I talked about what’s taking place with Dr. Georgina Peacock from the CDC.
GEORGINA PEACOCK: The vast majority of individuals haven’t had a vaccine this 12 months to guard them towards flu, COVID and, for these which can be eligible, for RSV. And so there’s plenty of work to be finished. We would love for these charges to be increased.
STEIN: And, you recognize, Rob, lots of of individuals are nonetheless dying from COVID each week within the U.S, for instance, even earlier than the subsequent surge anticipated this winter.
SCHMITZ: So Rob, these numbers are actually stunning. And I am questioning – why are so few individuals getting these pictures?
STEIN: , Rob, it is a mixture of things. A part of it’s the lingering skepticism and outright hostility from the pandemic towards the COVID vaccine particularly and vaccines normally. One other issue is that individuals are inclined to underestimate how harmful each viruses will be whereas overestimating vaccination dangers. There’s plenty of misinformation about how nicely the vaccines work and the way protected they’re. And at last, plenty of of us are simply sick of vaccines due to all of the pictures they’ve gotten over the previous couple of years. , put all of it collectively and lots of people are simply feeling form of finished with vaccines. I talked about this with Dr. Gregory Poland. He is president of the Atria Academy of Science and Medication in New York.
GREGORY POLAND: As a society proper now, we’re in a part of rejecting experience, of distrust of any skilled, whether or not it is science, meteorology, drugs, authorities – no matter it’s.
STEIN: And, you recognize, Rob, the vaccines aren’t excellent. Vaccinated individuals can nonetheless get the flu or COVID. However the pictures are an honest match for the strains circulating proper now, are very protected, and fairly efficient at stopping extreme illness and chopping the chance for lengthy COVID.
SCHMITZ: Proper, however it feels like there’s going to be an issue right here. What’s taking place with flu, COVID and RSV proper now, and what is perhaps coming this winter?
STEIN: In the intervening time, the flu and RSV numbers are very low, and COVID’s nonetheless receding within the U.S. from the late summer season surge. However RSV has already began to choose up within the Southeast. And all three viruses are anticipated to take off once more as individuals journey and collect for Thanksgiving and the winter holidays and begin spending extra time indoors.
SCHMITZ: Rob Stein, NPR’s well being correspondent, thanks.
STEIN: You wager, Rob.
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