CNN
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Influenza epidemics began early in the United States this year, but vaccination rates have not kept pace.
Influenza vaccines have always been a slow sell to Americans. The US Department of Health and Human Services has set a target vaccination coverage in the US of 70%. healthy people 2030 schedule. However, for at least the last decade, less than half of the population has actually been vaccinated against the flu every year.
Public health leaders say it will be especially difficult to get people vaccinated against the flu this year because people are tired of hearing About shots.
It used to be an annual thing to ask people to get vaccinated every time the flu season started, but now the message about vaccines is almost regular. As a result, announcements regarding the availability and eligibility of new Covid-19 vaccines are being made every few months.
“There’s a lot of vaccine fatigue out there. Asking people to get not just one vaccine this year, but an annual flu vaccine and a Covid booster was what I call a hard sell. Vander Infectious Diseases and Professor at Bild University Medical Center.
“There’s an old saying that ‘familiarity breeds contempt.’ Well, that might be a bit strong, but familiarity seems to breed a certain indifference,” he said.
flu for millions Vaccine doses for this season have been dispensed compared to this point in past seasons, according to. data From the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Only 26% of adults had received a flu shot by the end of her October. By the end of November, about 43% of children had been vaccinated against influenza.
Experts say the 2020-21 flu season, the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, was a notable outlier.
Flu vaccination rates have surged more than usual amid fears of a “storm” where coronavirus and flu go together.
“The public health message, which I think we’ve done very effectively, was that while you can’t protect yourself from Covid right now, you can definitely take the flu off the table,” LJ said. Mr Tan said. Co-chair of the Immunization Action Coalition and the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit.
“We came out of lockdown and people wanted to be active instead of passive. I’m sure I can get rid of the flu,” people said, “Yeah, I do.” ”
But that double threat never materialized. Flu season has been unusually mild over the past two years, keeping people off guard, experts say.
“I almost had to remind people about the flu,” Schaffner said. “We had two of his years with very little flu and a lot less flu. And of course everyone is crazy about Covid and want to forget Covid and get on with their lives. I think.”
Today, the continual messages about the trio of viruses – influenza, Covid and RSV – are not arriving in exactly the same way. The urgency is real as hospitals across the country expand to record levels, but it’s not compelling people to act.
“It amazes me that people have become so accustomed to the flu season being so bad for the elderly. There is a sense that we are what we must live for.” report On addressing the 2016 vaccine hesitancy.
“What we miss is the fact that children and children’s hospitals are suffering in ways we’ve never seen before.”
Numerous studies have found that influenza and Covid-19 vaccines significantly reduce the risk of serious outcomes for infected people, including hospitalization and death, and reduce the burden on health care workers.
Exacerbating general vaccine fatigue is decision fatigue, according to Hackel.
People have to choose whether or not to get the flu vaccine each year. These days, decisions have to be made about the Covid-19 vaccine renewal. Each new decision opens the door for misinformation and disinformation to permeate the process.
“If it’s a vaccine like measles that’s really effective and not repeated, it could be different,” Hackell said. Said. “But I think it will have ripple effects when it has to be compared to Covid and flu vaccines whose efficacy is less dramatic and there is a lot of controversy going on.”
Health workers are also exhausted, experts say.
“I think there’s also fatigue, moral injury, and provider burnout.” It’s very difficult to go on and on, and now with so many respiratory illnesses, it’s time to have these long discussions when the office is full of sick kids. I don’t think so.”
Utilization of the latest Covid-19 boosters has also been lackluster, with less than 1 in 7 eligible getting it since it was approved in the fall, according to CDC data.
Ongoing messages from the White House are urging Americans to get the latest Covid-19 booster shots and flu shots at the same time.
However, despite the convenience of getting both shots at once, there is evidence that linking the two shots is not the best way to increase coverage of either one.
There has always been some hesitation about vaccination, but it became very politicized during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“There are still a lot of people in this country who don’t believe in flu or Covid vaccines,” said Lori Tremmell Freeman, CEO of the National County and Municipal Health Association. It is serious, many people have died, many people are hospitalized, it is hitting young and old, so we should pay more attention to it.”
But even when interest in booster shots was at its peak, it was rare for people to get both shots at the same time.
Of those who received a Covid-19 booster between September 2021 and May 2022, 10 had a flu shot at the same time, according to self-reports to the CDC’s V-safe monitoring system. It was less than 1 person.
“We give children multiple vaccines at the same time, but we don’t typically do that to adults,” said Tan, a former liaison on the American Medical Association’s CDC Vaccine Advisory Board. I’m here.
Trying to convince people to do something new may add to their already prevalent hesitation and make them less likely to participate at all. It seems that they are much more likely to accept offers of the flu vaccine when they plan to get a flu vaccine, and vice versa.
“Direct interaction with the health care provider (in this case, a pharmacist, internist, or clinician) provides a level of trust. They can reassure patients that they are safe.” Mr Tan said. “In a personal conversation between providers and patients, patients are converted and vaccinated.
Messages can eventually stick. Walgreens stores have seen him co-administer flu and his Covid-19 vaccine 70% more than last year, according to data shared with CNN.
Tan says there have been signs of improvement in recent weeks.
Pharmacies have become much more popular than doctor’s offices among adults choosing where to get their flu shots. CDC data The number of flu vaccines administered in pharmacies this season is actually higher than last year. According to Tan, this represents an increased opportunity to reach a wider group of otherwise healthy adults who are less likely to have primary caregivers.
“At least it’s up now, as opposed to the continued decline we saw four weeks ago,” he said. “But I sound positive, but I want to remind you that we need to be better than we are now.”
Fighting vaccine fatigue is difficult, but it is no excuse for lowering vaccination coverage.
“In many situations, access can help you overcome fatigue,” Tan says.
In public health, “Think outside the box and start by thinking outside the box to see what needs to change so that people are motivated to look for a flu vaccine again.” We have to. Right now, it’s a vaccine that’s too convenient.”
