Most Americans may delay or skip flu shot this year amid pandemic, poll finds. Why?
Three in five Americans, or 60%, say they may delay or skip their flu shot this year, turning a cold shoulder to expert advice that says vaccination can prevent a “twin-demic” as the coronavirus pandemic lingers, according to a new online survey.
While it’s difficult to predict how the flu season will fare this year, experts say it may be worse and begin earlier than in 2020, partly because influenza viruses were virtually nonexistent thanks to coronavirus preventive measures that kept other respiratory viruses at bay.
Thirty-one percent of respondents said they may delay or skip their flu shot because they want to avoid side effects, 17% said it’s not effective on them, 15% said they wanted to “space out” their flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine, and 11% said the cost of the jab is to blame.
Although flu shot side effects can be unpleasant, experts say they are a sign the vaccine is building the immune response your body needs to fight the virus when exposed. However, the shot still works even without causing the telltale muscle aches and chills.
Flu shots are recommended for everyone 6 months and older, with some exceptions, as well as COVID-19 vaccines for those ages 12 and older.
“If there has ever been a year to prioritize getting your flu shot at the beginning of the season, this is it,” Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, said in a news release. “The flu will be back this year, and getting the flu vaccine as soon as possible will offer the most protection for you and your loved ones.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it’s safe to get the COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot at the same time. You can also get your flu shot and COVID-19 booster dose, if eligible, simultaneously. However, 12% of survey respondents thought they couldn’t receive both shots at the same; another 6% said the flu shot increases risks for contracting COVID-19, which evidence fails to show.
Twelve percent who said they may delay or skip their flu shot reported they believe they are already immune to influenza viruses and 14% said they don’t feel they need a vaccine because flu rates were so low last year.
Coronavirus preventive measures, such as mask wearing and physical distancing, that likely prevented thousands of flu infections in 2020 are, for the most part, not in effect this flu season, so doctors worry influenza viruses may spread with more fury this year.
Like COVID-19, the flu can cause pneumonia in serious cases. It’s regularly among the top 10 causes of death in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association, especially for adults with other medical conditions such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease.
About 93% of adults hospitalized with the flu during the 2018-2019 season had at least one underlying medical condition, with heart disease accounting for about half of the chronic conditions among the severely ill.
Although 82% of survey respondents said COVID-19 has caused them to think more about their health, just 26% said the disease is making them more likely to get the flu shot this year. Meanwhile, 15% said COVID-19 is making them less likely to get the jab.
“The flu virus is going to have an easier time spreading this year with more people out and about at school, church, sporting events and so on,” Lloyd-Jones said in the release. “It’s incredibly important for you to get the flu vaccine this year and make sure you and your loved ones are protected.”
The online survey, which included 1,000 adult respondents, was conducted by Wakefield Research for the American Heart Association between Aug. 30 and Sept. 7. The margin of error is 3.1 percentage points.
This story was originally published October 13, 2021 at 10:59 AM with the headline "Most Americans may delay or skip flu shot this year amid pandemic, poll finds. Why?."
