Just 1 in 10 Older Americans Vaccinated Against RSV by Fall 2023

Most surveyed Americans older than 60 said they were unlikely to seek out respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination for the 2023-2024 season, according to a study published online in Health Affairs Scholar.

Just 9% said they had received the RSV vaccination as of the last week of September 2023.

“Although the vaccines are 83% to 89% effective in preventing lung infections, the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] did not officially recommend them this year, which may have also been a factor,” said study author Simon F. Haeder, PhD, of the Texas A&M University School of Public Health, College Station, Texas. “In addition, vaccine hesitancy is growing worldwide in response to COVID-19.”

The study included responses for 1345 Americans over age 60 who were surveyed September 27 and September 28, 2023, about their current RSV vaccination status and their intention to receive the RSV vaccine.

Overall, 9.1% of respondents said they had already received the RSV vaccine, according to the study. Men were more likely than women to have received the vaccine, as were respondents with higher levels of concern about the disease, higher self-assessed risk, higher levels of trust in health institutions, and a belief that vaccines were safe and important.

Of the 91% of respondents who had not received the RSV vaccine, 42% indicated an intent to receive it.

Vaccine-hesitant respondents reported not needing the vaccine, concerns about side effects and safety, and a lack of information about the vaccine. Accordingly, Dr Haeder recommended policymakers highlight the safety and importance of RSV vaccines and the potential risks of failing to vaccinate. Efforts are also needed to debunk misleading claims surrounding RSV vaccination.

“An important role also falls to health care providers, who tend to be the most trusted source of medical advice for most individuals,” Dr Haeder wrote. “Moreover, given the consistent findings about increased vaccine hesitancy in women, approaches particularly tailored to women ought to be developed.”

References

Kellet A. Only 9 percent of older Americans were vaccinated against RSV before the disease hit this fall and winter. News release. Texas A&M University; March 1, 2024. Accessed March 25, 2024. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1036350

Haeder SF. US seniors' intention to vaccinate against RSV in fall and winter 2023–2024. Health Affairs Scholar. 2024:2(2):qxae003. doi:10.1093/haschl/qxae003