KFF data reveals that COVID-19 booster shots face more hesitancy than flu and RSV vaccines among adults. While 46% of adults intend to get the latest COVID-19 booster, concerns about safety persist. In contrast, flu and RSV shots have higher acceptance rates, with 58% planning to get a flu shot. Intentions vary by age, political affiliation, and prior vaccination status. The survey also indicates that children are less likely to receive boosters, possibly due to safety concerns, mirroring trends seen in adults’ vaccine hesitancy.
KFF’s latest COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor indicates that while the new COVID-19 booster has garnered a reasonable level of interest among adults, a substantial portion still harbors reservations and safety concerns about this particular shot compared to traditional vaccines like those for influenza and RSV.
According to the survey, 46 percent of adults aged 18 and above expressed a definite or probable intention to receive the latest COVID-19 booster. These intentions were more prevalent among adults aged 65 and older, Hispanic adults, Democrats, and individuals who have previously received the COVID-19 vaccine.
These statistics come at a time when the U.S. public health system braces for a potential “tripledemic” of COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. The simultaneous peak seasons of these illnesses could strain the nation’s healthcare facilities considerably, as highlighted by KFF.
It is worth noting that vaccines are available for each of these illnesses and are generally effective at preventing serious illness in most adults. Encouragingly, this year sees a substantial number of adults expressing willingness to receive these vaccinations.
Over half of adults (58 percent) reported their intent to receive a flu shot this year, which includes some who have already received the vaccine. This inclination was particularly pronounced among adults aged 65 and older, with three-quarters of them expressing a desire to get the flu shot. Moreover, 58 percent of adults aged 60 and above indicated they would definitely or probably get the newly recommended RSV shot for their age group.
However, enthusiasm for the latest COVID booster is somewhat less prevalent. Just under half (47 percent) of adults stated their intention to receive the most up-to-date COVID-19 vaccine, as recommended by the CDC on September 12 when the KFF poll was still in progress.
Among those previously vaccinated against COVID-19, six in ten expressed willingness to receive the updated shots, while 37 percent stated they would probably or not get the booster. This resulted in 27 percent of previously vaccinated individuals declining the update.
As expected, a substantial majority of those who have never received a COVID-19 vaccine indicated they have no plans to start now, with only 5 percent expressing willingness to get the new vaccine. In total, one-quarter of all U.S. adults have never received a COVID-19 shot and have no intention to do so. Notably, vaccine hesitancy for COVID-19 is more prevalent among Republicans than Democrats, as indicated by the KFF poll.
Demographic groups at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 displayed greater intent to receive the booster, with 64 percent of adults aged 65 and above, 56 percent of individuals with underlying health conditions, 54 percent of Hispanic individuals, and 51 percent of Black individuals expressing their intent to receive the new vaccine. In contrast, only 42 percent of White adults reported they would get the newly approved booster.
However, the KFF poll suggests that booster uptake is less likely to gain traction among children. This is unsurprising given the delayed pace of pediatric vaccination compared to adult vaccination. Six in ten parents of teenagers, 64 percent of parents with children aged five to eleven, and 66 percent of parents with children aged six months to four years indicated that they would decline to have their children receive the booster.
Safety concerns appear to be a significant factor, mirroring trends observed in the adult population. While parents expressed confidence in the safety of the flu vaccine (68 percent) and RSV vaccine (63 percent), only 48 percent expressed confidence in the safety of the new COVID booster.
