United States: The peak season of three severe and even fatal respiratory illnesses has recently ended; however, still the health authorities and experts have been sounding alarms because of the low vaccination rates among the older population of the United States – which is most vulnerable to get infected from the disease.
The health authorities have outlined that they are concerned about such low vaccination rates – against flu, COVID, and influenza (RSV) among older adults. The statement was released after the vaccines were proven to be effective at protecting older adults from the severe outcomes of the disease and infection. It is to be noted that the experts have revealed that the vaccines also worked in decreasing hospitalization and death, according to Scientific America.
Along with this, the medical experts have outlined that the vaccination rate among the older population is very low, which is concerning and worth worrying about because certain states of the US are still witnessing a surge in the cases. The rate has been unveiled by the scientists working at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In light of the ease of transmission of these ailments and the potential for prolonged and intricate hospital stays, it is imperative that we intensify our efforts to immunize them.
As we approach the conclusion of this season marked by respiratory viruses, it became paramount that we commence preparations for the forthcoming one. Drawing from the experiences garnered during the distribution of vaccines for influenza, COVID, and RSV, we can endeavor to provide the elderly with optimal protection.
Elderly individuals face a heightened susceptibility to severe illness and mortality stemming from these respiratory viral infections in comparison to other demographics. The deterioration of their primary innate immune responses and their subsequent, more gradual adaptive immune responses render them more vulnerable, according to reports by Scientific America.

This susceptibility, coupled with elevated incidences of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, as well as a heightened risk of contagion among those residing in long-term care facilities, places seniors at an elevated risk of severe illness and mortality.
Enhanced utilization of these vaccines throughout the autumn and winter seasons of respiratory illnesses holds the promise of fostering improved well-being among seniors, thereby reducing visits to urgent care facilities and emergency departments, as well as diminishing hospitalizations, as per Scientific America.
In this time period ranging from 2022 to 2023, experts estimated that influenza vaccinations have prevented 31 thousand hospitalizations and 2,500 deaths among people aged 65 and above. Likewise, the number of hospitalizations and deaths among older groups aged from 60 to 79 was also significantly lesser post immunization compared to those who were unvaccinated for COVID. In addition to this, investigations on human volunteers confirmed that the novel vaccine yielded 83-89 percent efficacy in the active part of the lung in persons aged 60 and more.
The CDC’s reports for the flu vaccine, from late March, reveal that 74 percent of older people aged 65 years were fully vaccinated, something that is not the case with the updated COVID vaccine, as only 42 percent of adults had received it. Despite flu vaccination coverage showing a slight increase compared to the same period of last year, people tend to be not so much interested in the COVID vaccines, so the level of vaccination coverage is not so different from that seen in the same period of last year. Among individuals aged 60 and over, an RSV vaccine rate of 24 percent was achieved by last March. Furthermore, at the end of day 10, only 43% of nursing home residents had received a booster dose of the COVID vaccine, but 72% percent of the residents were getting a flu vaccination and 10% were getting an RSV vaccination by the same date.
What is staggering is that many people say that flu vaccines help them avoid the flu and that COVID-19 vaccinations protect against COVID-19, but it is extremely surprising that the flu vaccine is taken by the same number of people as the COVID vaccine. However, lots of people get flu vaccines and need protection from the flu, while the percentage of the people who need protection from COVID-19 and take COVID vaccines is only a small number of people In addition to this, one should also be aware that despite the great strides made in the education of individuals and their healthcare providers concerning the suitability or not of getting the RSV vaccination, there is still a long way down the road.
The CDC meant this demographic via surveys to get an appraisal of the cause of why they did not like passing away. The CDC identified a variety of causes. The sixty-five and older adults group used to hesitate to get the flu vaccine, and their concerns are about the vaccine’s efficacy and some side effects that come with it when not having the excitement of developing the flu.
Similarly, primary reasons cited by individuals aged 60 and above for abstaining from RSV vaccination included a lack of concern regarding RSV, insufficient knowledge about the virus and its vaccine, and reservations regarding the novelty of the vaccine, Scientific America claimed.
These trepidations overshadowing the vaccine administration process, as well as inequality on different vaccine types, can be traced back to the various timelines at which their launch phase and post-launch procedures, respectively, happened. Unlike the influenza vaccines, which have been used in the US since the 40s, COVID vaccines were recently released approximately three years ago. It doesn’t matter how strictly these technologies are scrutinized by safety checker systems. The gap in knowledge inevitably leads to people being skeptical about their safety.
Therefore, vaccine fatigue, the case of the CDC Consumers survey, also presents a problem that will need some energy to overcome. Although there was a startling and positive attitude towards the initial phases of the COVID vaccine among the elderly, later doses have failed to attract similar acceptability. Lastly, the cause of the current high COVID mortalities is not enough to make Americans concerned about the disease by reducing the strong attitude people hold.
The licensure of RSV vaccines in 2023 brought the implementation problems to light. It takes no other time for the vaccine coverage to become widespread. Unlike the flu shot or COVID vaccine, The CDC recommended against widespread immunization of people 60 years and older; however, they have instead recommended that their healthcare providers have the discussion so that each person can decide what is best for them. As a result of this, besides obtaining the consent of all eligible people, the vaccination will probably be up to the further judgment of the people.
This indicated further impediments again for a few people, most of whom are unable to go to the health facilities seeking vaccination. Although both these jabs are available in plenty and have been included in original health insurance policies of Medicaid and a lot of private schemes, around 400,000 elders who are sixty-five and over have no access. In light of this, the healthcare givers or hospitals are the ones who incur the advance payments for vaccines and are only billed later for post-vaccination payments.

Additionally, disparities in healthcare access among ethnic and racial groups exacerbate challenges associated with vaccine uptake. For instance, influenza vaccination coverage among individuals aged 65 and above ranged from 54 percent in American Indian/Alaska Native populations to 71 percent in non-Hispanic white populations during the 2022–2023 season.
Furthermore, logistical challenges hinder the concurrent administration of all three vaccines within a compressed timeframe. Despite CDC guidelines permitting the simultaneous administration of influenza, COVID, and RSV vaccines, not all individuals are receptive to this approach. Moreover, the staggered availability of these vaccines throughout the preceding season posed logistical challenges, complicating efforts to administer them concurrently. Consequently, some individuals may have deferred or been unable to receive additional vaccines during subsequent visits.
Long-term care facilities confront unique obstacles in vaccinating residents, necessitating concerted efforts to bolster vaccine confidence and demand among residents, staff, and family members. Limited infrastructure, staffing, and financial resources pose challenges to routine vaccine administration within these facilities. Additionally, the conclusion of the Public Health Emergency precipitated a transition from a federal vaccine distribution system to a commercialized market, thereby curbing regulatory flexibilities and ushering in a shift towards more sustainable vaccination channels, Scientific America reported.
The relatively high influenza vaccination coverage among older adults underscores the feasibility of achieving greater vaccine uptake across all recommended vaccines. The CDC’s initiatives, such as the Bridge Access Program, aim to enhance access to COVID vaccines for uninsured or underinsured adults. Furthermore, concerted efforts are underway to bolster vaccine confidence, communicate the benefits of vaccination, and leverage data-driven strategies to target vaccination campaigns. Given that healthcare provider recommendations remain a primary driver of vaccination decisions, the CDC is equipping providers with resources to facilitate informed discussions surrounding vaccines.
Achieving widespread vaccine uptake among older adults necessitates grassroots efforts spanning communities, vaccination providers, and households nationwide. This collective endeavor is essential to ensure that older adults receive not only respiratory virus vaccines but all recommended vaccines.