Vaccine Hesitancy in the Chronic Conditions Community: New Survey Findings
People with chronic diseases like COPD or with immunocompromising conditions continue to have reservations about vaccines against flu, COVID-19, and RSV.
According to a recent poll by the Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF) skepticism about the safety of vaccines continues among adults with chronic conditions, a population that is at high-risk for severe infection with from influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and respiratory syncytial virus. Hesitancy is driven by personal health experiences, distrust in government and pharmaceutical companies, and concerns over the research behind the most recent vaccines, the poll found. Despite 1 in 10 who said they don't plan to be vaccinated this year, the survey also revealed that more than half (54%) of the respondents fear they will have difficulty accessing life-saving vaccines in the future.
“These aren’t just data points – these are a wake-up call,” Seth Ginsberg, president and co-founder, GHLF, said in a foundation release. “The concerns voiced by patients, particularly regarding vaccine access, highlight critical gaps in our health care system. We cannot ignore the impact this will have on those with chronic diseases, who are already at higher risk for severe illness.”
The short slide show above offers highlights of the survey findings.
