US Adults Lagging in Flu, COVID-19, and RSV Vaccination: Daily Dose

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Patient Care brings primary care clinicians a lot of medical news every day—it’s easy to miss an important study. The Daily Dose provides a concise summary of one of the website's leading stories you may not have seen.

On December 4, 2024, we reported on a report published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) that examined influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination coverage early in the fall respiratory virus season in the US.

The study

Researchers analyzed data from the National Immunization Survey-Adult COVID Module, a random-digit-dialed cell phone survey of adults, which included responses to vaccine-related questions from 137 000 people on influenza, 112 000 people on COVID-19, and 88 000 people on RSV, collected between September 7, 2024, and November 9, 2024. Estimates of vaccination intent were based on interviews conducted each respective week.

The findings

As of November 9, 2024, an estimated 34.7% of adults aged 18 years and older reported having received an influenza vaccine, and 17.9% had received an updated COVID-19 vaccine for the 2024-25 respiratory virus season. For RSV, coverage was 39.7% among adults aged 75 years and older and 31.6% among those aged 60 to 74 years at increased risk for severe RSV disease.

Overall, approximately 35% of adults aged 18 years and older said they were open to receiving the influenza vaccine, and about 41% were open to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, around 40% of adults aged 75 years and older indicated they would definitely or probably receive the RSV vaccine.

In addition, vaccination coverage for the current season (ie, week ending November 9, 2024) showed some improvements compared to the corresponding period in 2023-2024.

Authors' comments

"Vaccination is recommended to continue while viruses are circulating during the 2024–25 respiratory virus season. Health care providers and immunization programs still have time to expand outreach and promote vaccination activities to improve vaccination coverage, especially before persons gather with friends and family during the winter holidays."

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