ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A new poll about adults and their vaccination plans has infectious disease specialists worried.
Fall means football, sweatshirts and trips to the cider brewery, but doctors are hoping to add one more item to that list: fall vaccinations.
Experts say autumn is the best time to get the new vaccines against influenza and COVID-19. Pregnant women and the elderly can also get the RSV vaccine.
But a new University of Michigan poll found that just under half of adults over 50 say they’re likely to get an improved version of a COVID-19 vaccine this fall.
The poll was led by Dr. Priti Malani, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Michigan Health School.
“The 45% figure is a bit concerning because this age group, 50 and older, is at a higher risk of experiencing COVID-related complications, including hospitalization, severe illness and even death,” Malani said. “So for anyone who is still unsure about whether to get vaccinated or has concerns or questions, we strongly encourage them to speak with a trusted healthcare provider.”
About 60% of people aged 75 and older, who are at highest risk of severe COVID-19 infection, said they would likely get the new vaccine. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age or older get the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines.
“Younger people sometimes think, ‘I’m not at high risk for complications, hospitalization or death, so I don’t need to get the vaccine,'” Malani said. “And while that’s certainly true, younger people can get sick and miss school or work. The vaccine not only protects you, it protects those around you, so that’s a really important consideration, too.”
Malani said there is no need to wait to get vaccinated.
“Some people ask about the best time to get the vaccine, but really, it’s just a matter of what’s convenient for you,” Malani says. “It’s never too early. Some of my friends and colleagues prefer to wait a little longer to get the flu shot. They’ve been advised to get it by the end of October. That doesn’t mean it won’t be effective if you get it later, but hopefully your antibody levels will be higher when cases peak, which tends to happen later in the season, but now is a good time to get vaccinated.”
Malani stressed that both the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine are aimed at risk reduction.
“These two vaccines don’t prevent all illness,” Malani said, “but they do prevent severe illness. They prevent hospitalization and death. So it’s important to get the vaccine to protect yourself from these severe complications, but it’s also important to protect those around you.”
Another vaccine to consider is the RSV vaccine, which is recommended for adults 75 years of age and older, and for people 60-74 years of age who have underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, obesity, or who live in a nursing home.
“The RSV vaccine is now available for older adults in 2023. This is an important vaccine that can prevent certain types of pneumonia that can be very severe, especially for older adults,” Malani said. “It’s a one-time shot. It’s not an annual vaccine. It’s a little bit confusing for people, some people have never heard of it, so this is a vaccine that people should talk to their doctor about.”
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