Solely 45% of Individuals age 50 and older say they’re prone to get the up to date COVID-19 vaccine this season, in keeping with a ballot at this time from the College of Michigan.
The ballot exhibits many at excessive threat of extreme sickness seem unlikely to hunt the vaccine, and curiosity in an up to date vaccine varies extensively by age-group, schooling degree, and different components.
The outcomes come from the Nationwide Ballot on Wholesome Growing older carried out in August. On the time of polling, new COVID vaccines weren’t but extensively accessible, however they’d been permitted to be used and endorsed by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
Amongst adults 75 and older, 59% mentioned they had been prone to get the up to date COVID-19 shot, with 49% of them saying they’re very possible and 10% saying they’re considerably possible. Amongst adults 65 to 74, 51% mentioned they had been prone to get the vaccine.
Stage of schooling performs a job
Amongst these aged 50 to 64, extra mentioned they had been unlikely to get the brand new vaccine; 55% unlikely, in contrast with 37% possible.
In 2023, practically half of all US COVID hospitalizations had been amongst these ages 75 and older.
The ballot confirmed demographic variations as effectively. Adults with a Bachelor’s diploma had been extra prone to get vaccinated—54%, in contrast with 41% of these with decrease ranges of schooling. General, girls had been barely extra possible than males to say they might be vaccinated.
Our new ballot knowledge counsel that suppliers and healthcare organizations have to do extra to encourage older adults to get vaccinated quickly.
“Our new ballot knowledge counsel that suppliers and healthcare organizations have to do extra to encourage older adults to get vaccinated quickly, particularly given the present wave of circumstances and the chance of one other wave this winter,” mentioned senior advisor to the ballot Preeti Malani, MD, in a press launch from the College of Michigan.