Thus far only a few People 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 to this point this yr?
STEIN: It isn’t wanting good. In response to the newest information from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, solely a few third of adults have gotten this yr’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 a bit higher than this time final yr, however far decrease than wanted to guard most individuals in danger. And, you recognize, Rob, most worrying – most nursing house residents have not gotten a COVID booster and solely 58% have gotten a flu shot. They usually’re the oldsters at highest danger of getting actually sick or dying from the flu and COVID. I talked about what’s occurring with Dr. Georgina Peacock from the CDC.
GEORGINA PEACOCK: Nearly all of individuals haven’t had a vaccine this yr to guard them towards flu, COVID and, for these which are eligible, for RSV. And so there’s a variety of work to be carried out. We would love for these charges to be greater.
STEIN: And, you recognize, Rob, a whole lot of individuals are nonetheless dying from COVID each week within the U.S, for instance, even earlier than the following surge anticipated this winter.
SCHMITZ: So Rob, these numbers are actually shocking. And I am questioning – why are so few individuals getting these photographs?
STEIN: You already know, 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 generally. One other issue is that folks are inclined to underestimate how harmful each viruses may be whereas overestimating vaccination dangers. There’s a variety of misinformation about how properly the vaccines work and the way protected they’re. And at last, a variety of of us are simply sick of vaccines due to all of the photographs they’ve gotten over the previous couple of years. You already know, put all of it collectively and lots of people are simply feeling type of carried out 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 section of rejecting experience, of distrust of any professional, whether or not it is science, meteorology, drugs, authorities – no matter it’s.
STEIN: And, you recognize, Rob, the vaccines aren’t good. Vaccinated individuals can nonetheless get the flu or COVID. However the photographs are a good match for the strains circulating proper now, are very protected, and fairly efficient at stopping extreme illness and chopping the danger for lengthy COVID.
SCHMITZ: Proper, but it surely feels like there’s going to be an issue right here. What’s occurring with flu, COVID and RSV proper now, and what is perhaps coming this winter?
STEIN: For the time being, 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 select 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 guess, Rob.
Copyright © 2024 NPR. All rights reserved. Go to our web site phrases of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for additional info.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This textual content might not be in its ultimate type and could also be up to date or revised sooner or later. Accuracy and availability could range. The authoritative report of NPR’s programming is the audio report.
