63 Percent of Seniors Plan to Get Flu Vaccine, Survey Finds

Clover Health's annual Flu Shot Monitor survey found 63 percent of Americans older than 60 intend to get a flu shot this season, reports Becker's Hospital Review . The poll also learned that 35 percent of seniors did not get a flu shot in the 2017-18 season, and 8 percent of those who caught the flu last year have no plans of getting vaccinated this year. Of those, 43 percent are worried the shot will make them sick, 35 percent doubt flu shots are effective, 35 percent consider the shot unnecessary, and 22 percent do not like shots. About 64 percent of Caucasian respondents plan on getting a flu shot, versus 56 percent of nonwhite respondents. Meanwhile, about 74 percent of seniors with a household income of $75,000 or more plan on getting a shot, followed by 65 percent from a household earning $35,000 to $74,000 and 54 percent who earn less than $35,000. Furthermore, about 60 percent of seniors lacking an undergraduate degree plan on getting the vaccine, compared to 70 percent of respondents who graduated from college. Finally, respondents 80 years old and over are most likely to get a flu shot this year. "It's concerning to see that so many people in this at-risk demographic do not intend to get vaccinated," notes Clover Health's Kumar Dharmarajan. "Not only are these older adults putting themselves at risk, but also their friends and family members."