Diya Surie, M.D., from the CDC in Atlanta, and her team studied how many older adults (aged 60 and above) received the RSV vaccine during the first season it was available, from October 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024. They focused on adults hospitalized with respiratory illnesses that were not caused by RSV.
Out of 6,746 hospitalized older adults, only 10.4% had received the RSV vaccine, while 89.6% had not. Among the unvaccinated group, nearly half (47.2%) of the 3,219 people who answered questions about RSV either hadn’t heard of the virus or weren’t sure about it. Also, 78.5% were unsure if they were eligible for the vaccine or thought they weren’t.
Factors Linked to Getting the RSV Vaccine:
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Age: People aged 75 or older were more likely to be vaccinated.
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Gender: Men had a slightly higher chance of being vaccinated.
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Health Conditions: Those with lung diseases or weakened immune systems were more likely to get the vaccine.
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Social Factors: People living in areas with lower social vulnerability were more likely to be vaccinated.
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Education: Individuals with higher education levels—like college degrees, technical training, or even high school diplomas—were more likely to receive the vaccine.
Groups Less Likely to Get Vaccinated:
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Residents of long-term care facilities
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People with Medicaid or those without insurance
The study’s authors suggest that to improve vaccination rates in future RSV seasons, efforts should focus on:
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Making vaccine recommendations simpler
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Raising awareness about RSV and the vaccine
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Expanding access to preventive health services
This could help older adults, especially those at higher risk for severe illness, get vaccinated more effectively.
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