WHO Sees Low COVID, Flu Vaccinations As Cases Rise

Low vaccination rates against the latest versions of COVID-19 and influenza are putting pressure on healthcare systems this winter, leading public health officials told Reuters, Jennifer Rigby, and Julie Steenhuysen reported for Reuters.

Only 19.4% of US adults have received this season’s COVID vaccine based on the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention’s National Immunization Survey.

In the United States, several European countries, and other parts of the world, there have been reports of rising hospitalizations linked to respiratory infections in recent weeks.

Death rates have also ticked up among older adults in some regions, but far below the COVID pandemic peak.

Spain’s government has reinstated mask-wearing requirements at healthcare facilities, as have some US hospital networks.

Only 19.4% of US adults have received this season’s COVID vaccine based on the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention’s National Immunization Survey, despite a recommendation that all adults get an updated shot to protect against serious illness.

That compares roughly with 17% of adults who got the bivalent booster in the 2022-2023 season, based on actual vaccine data reported to the CDC by states. Nearly half of US adults over 18 got a flu shot this season (44.9%), roughly the same as last year (44%), according to the CDC.

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