More than three-quarters of American adults were not vaccinated against COVID-19 last season. Medical experts warn these numbers could rise this year following new recommendations from the US government.
The COVID-19 vaccine was initially popular. About 75% of Americans have received this benefit. at least one dose The first versions of the vaccine are expected to be available by early 2022, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But only about 23% of U.S. adults have received a COVID-19 shot during the 2024-25 virus season, much lower than the 47% of U.S. adults who have received a flu shot. vaccination rate flu, measlesTetanus is also decreasing.
But COVID-19 remains a serious and potentially fatal health risk, listed as the leading cause of death on approximately 31,400 death certificates last year. In comparison, the flu killed people. About 6,500 people It killed people and pneumonia, a common complication of the flu. Additional 41,600, According to CDC data.
As millions of Americans decide whether to get vaccinated against COVID-19 this season, public health researchers worry that vaccination rates will fall further, especially among Hispanics, Black people and people under 30, who could be more vulnerable to serious complications, such as long-term COVID-19. Under the Trump administration and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the federal government has narrowed its recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines, creating a jumble of rules for pharmacy access and leaving Americans in Republican states often facing more barriers to getting shots.
“There is a lot of incorrect information circulating regarding COVID-19.” Aline-Romeis an assistant professor of health, society and behavior at the University of California-Irvine. “Reluctance to get vaccinated will only increase.”
Last August, the FDA narrow the scope of approval The COVID vaccine is available to people 65 years of age or older and adults and children with one or more underlying health conditions that put them at high risk for serious complications from COVID-19.
A month later, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices I voted for recommendation “Shared clinical decision-making” for vaccines, and a step back from recommending vaccination for all adults. The committee advised doctors to emphasize to adults and children under 65 that the vaccine’s benefits are greatest for those with underlying health conditions.
Most adults and children should get both the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine, which are safe, effective and prevent serious illness, infectious disease experts disputed the guidance. Several independent medical organizations, such as the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics, have reiterated their support for widespread adoption of the COVID-19 vaccine.
More than 20 states have taken steps to make COVID-19 vaccinations available to most people at pharmacies without a prescription, and many have tied their policies to advice from health care organizations. And many of these states say they are requiring insurers to cover the vaccine for free. KFF analysis. In several other, mainly Republican-led states, you may need a prescription to get the vaccine at a pharmacy.
Some of the most commonly cited reasons for hesitancy about the COVID-19 vaccine include side effects, long-term health effects, fear of the vaccine’s effectiveness, and distrust of pharmaceutical companies and government officials. 2024 review These are the results of several studies published in the journal Vaccines.
CDC data shows that COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the 2024-25 virus season was higher among Latinos, African Americans, men, the uninsured and those living in Republican-leaning states.
Latino adults were significantly less likely to have been vaccinated against COVID-19 last season than adults of most other racial and ethnic groups, with a vaccination rate of about 15%.
Some of that may be due to age. unbalanced share Latinos are young. But public policy measures can also be a factor. For example, the first Trump administration tied Medicaid to “public charge.” This is a rule that allows the federal government to deny green cards or visas to immigrants based on their reliance on taxpayer-funded programs. Some Latinos may be afraid to sign up for social services even after the Biden administration reverses Trump’s first move.
Co-written by Haroramos research A report published in 2024 found that many Latinos are hesitant to get vaccinated due to fears about their immigration status, and that experiencing health discrimination, such as denial or delays in treatment, has led to vaccine hesitancy.
“Generally speaking, do you trust the health care system? Would you give us your name, address, etc.?” Haroramos said. “Trust is important.”
Haro-Ramos said the problem has likely gotten worse since her study was published. trump administration Released this summer This means that the personal information of Medicaid enrollees will be provided to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Many Latinos are canceling doctor’s appointments to avoid potential confrontations with immigration enforcement officers.
“People are avoiding leaving their homes at all costs,” Haro-Ramos said.
Janani Rajbhandari-TapaRecently Associate Professor, School of Public Health, University of Georgia co-authored the study This is the status of COVID-19 vaccinations for approximately 1,500 African Americans living in southern Georgia. The study found that participants were more likely to listen to health care providers than to religious leaders or peers when seeking advice about getting vaccinated.
More than 90% of those studied had received at least one dose of the vaccine, but those who had not been vaccinated were more likely to agree with false statements about the vaccine causing miscarriage, ingredients that remain in the body for long periods of time, and even implanting computer chips into the body.
“It’s the clinicians who are going to be receptive to the message about the vaccine. It’s a myth,” Rajbhandari-Thapa said.
Even though hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 have fallen sharply since the worst of the pandemic, fatal complications related to COVID-19 remain most common among older adults. About 89% Last year, most of the U.S. COVID-19 deaths were people aged 65 or older. About 81% Deaths from flu and pneumonia.
As the pandemic recedes, young people have developed a sense of invincibility. During the 2024-25 virus season, only 11% of Americans ages 18 to 29 have been vaccinated, the lowest vaccination rate among adult age groups. It’s a lot lower than that. 70% of young adults People who have received at least one dose of the initial COVID-19 vaccine by November 2023.
While many people get COVID-19 after getting a COVID-19 shot, he said some people are misunderstanding the purpose of the shot because the vaccine’s ability to prevent infection wears off pretty quickly. Miss OttoHe is an infectious disease specialist at UCLA Health.
“They think, ‘Well, the vaccine didn’t prevent me from getting COVID, so the vaccine didn’t work,’” Yang said. “And what they don’t see is that the vaccine prevented them from getting serious disease. That’s ultimately what matters most.”
And the vaccine could help prevent long-term COVID-19, which is a problem for all age groups, Yang said. Recent Northwestern University Study found it Younger adults have more severe long-term COVID-19 symptoms than older adults.
Ultimately, Dr. Yang said getting the flu vaccine is not a consistent choice, rather than giving up the Covid vaccine. Because both are safe, effective, and prevent serious illness. He added that it is clear that people with compromised immune systems and those at higher risk should be vaccinated against COVID-19. The decision is “a little less clear” for others, but “probably most children should be vaccinated, as well as most adults, as is recommended for the flu vaccine.”
Phillip Reese is a data reporting expert and associate professor of journalism at the University of California, Sacramento.
