Americans are not getting seasonal vaccines ahead of the holidays

Experts worry that the unenthusiastic embrace of vaccines could spark outbreaks and increased hospitalizations

By Sabrina Malhi
November 27, 2024 at 5:00 a.m. EST

As the holiday season approaches, public health experts are sounding the alarm about low vaccination rates against the coronavirus, flu and RSV. With gatherings and travel on the rise, many people are heading into the next few months unprotected against these respiratory illnesses, which typically peak from December to February.

Experts worry that the unenthusiastic embrace of vaccines could spark outbreaks and increased hospitalizations.

As of this month, about 37 percent of adults 18 and older had received a seasonal flu shot, while 19 percent had received updated coronavirus vaccines and 40 percent of adults 75 and older — the group at greatest risk — got an RSV vaccine.

The vaccination rates are similar to last year’s figures, and the numbers reflect a persistent public health challenge achieving broader vaccine uptake for these illnesses.
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/11/27/flu-covid-rsv-shots-holidays/