About 6 in 10 people say they probably won’t get an updated shot this year, despite the CDC’s recommendation that everyone do so, according to results of a new survey from the Pew Research Center.
When asked why people wouldn’t get an updated COVID vaccine, 61% said a major reason was that they don’t think they need it, and 60% said a major reason is that they are concerned about side effects. Cost was a factor for 14% of people, and 46% of people said they don’t get vaccines in general.
There were some differences in intention to get vaccinated based on a person’s age. Among people ages 65 and older, 27% said they had already gotten the vaccine, and another 27% said they probably will get the shot, leaving 45% who said they probably won’t roll up their sleeves. People ages 30 to 49 years old were the least likely to plan on getting a COVID shot – 66% said they probably won’t get one.
Public health officials say everyone should get an annual COVID vaccine, just as they should get a flu shot, because the vaccines are formulated each year to target virus strains predicted to be in wide circulation. Also, immunity – either from past vaccination or past infection – wanes over time.