Title: COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake in the US Falls Short of Expectations, Raises Concerns
Subtitle: Low vaccination rates and supply shortages contribute to the sluggish rollout
In the first month since the introduction of the new COVID-19 vaccines, only a small percentage of U.S. adults and children have received their shots, prompting concerns among health experts. A recent national survey involving nearly 15,000 individuals revealed that just 7% of U.S. adults and a mere 2% of children have been vaccinated. These abysmal rates have raised alarms about the effectiveness of public education efforts on vaccination.
Even more worrisome is the low uptake among the most vulnerable demographics. Among those aged 75 or older, only about 20% have received the vaccine, while just 15% of individuals between the ages of 65 and 74 have been vaccinated. These figures were presented to scientific advisers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and substantiate the concerns raised by the CDC’s director, Mandy Cohen, who described the initial vaccine rollout as stumbling.
The CDC recommended that individuals aged 6 months and older receive the new COVID-19 shot on September 12. The reformulated dose aimed to target the current coronavirus strains, particularly the omicron subvariant XBB.1.5, which has been driving the majority of infections this year. However, the rollout faced significant challenges, including supply shortages and issues with processing insurance coverage, resulting in residents paying out of pocket.
By comparison, the previous bivalent booster, which protected against the original COVID-19 strain and a variant dominant in mid-2022, was received by approximately 17% of Americans, including 43% of adults aged 65 and older, during its availability from September 2022 to May. This highlights the disparity in vaccination rates between the two vaccines.
The data released also indicated that nearly 40% of adults expressed no intention to get the new vaccine, while a similar percentage of parents were hesitant to vaccinate their children. During the meeting, health experts raised concerns about these figures, referring to them as “abysmal.” Dr. Camille Kotton of Harvard Medical School emphasized the need for improved public education efforts to bridge the gap and increase vaccine acceptance.
Federal authorities initially aimed to make COVID-19 vaccination as routine as annual flu shots. However, Dr. David Kimberlin of the University of Alabama at Birmingham expressed dismay at the challenge of effectively conveying this message, emphasizing that the recommendations are not being heard.
The low vaccine uptake coincides with the recent increase in COVID-19 hospital admissions in California. Over the past week, the average daily number of COVID-19 patients admitted to hospitals has risen by approximately 4.5%, resulting in 1,874 new admissions. Additionally, concentrations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Bay Area wastewater samples have been increasing since late September.
Although hospitalizations and deaths are currently below their peak levels, data from the CDC suggests that more than 18,000 people are being hospitalized each week, with approximately 1,200 deaths. These numbers are expected to rise during the fall and winter months.
CDC Director Mandy Cohen emphasized the importance of vaccination, emphasizing that the virus has changed, and the updated vaccine is tailored to address these changes. She also highlighted that protection from previous vaccines or previous infections diminishes over time, making it essential for individuals to receive the new vaccine.
A study published by the CDC earlier this month revealed the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on older adults. Individuals aged 65 and above accounted for 63% of all COVID-related hospitalizations and constituted 61% of intensive care unit admissions and nearly 90% of COVID-19-related deaths. Cohen emphasized the need to prioritize vaccinating the over-65 population to protect them from severe outcomes.
As concerns about vaccine uptake persist, a new coronavirus variant HV.1 has become dominant in the U.S., according to CDC data. While the variant has not resulted in rapid disease surges, the CDC predicts a moderate COVID-19 wave, causing hospitalizations of a similar magnitude to last winter’s peak.
Efforts to address the low vaccination rates and improve public education on the importance of vaccination will be crucial to control the spread of COVID-19 and protect vulnerable populations.
Contact:
Aidin Waziri: [email protected]