Low Rates of Flu, Pneumococcal Vaccine Raise Concerns for Experts

The results of a new survey showed that 49% of adults in the United States will get a vaccine for the 2022 and 2023 influenza season, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID). These data were released at the 2022 NFID Influenza/Pneumococcal Disease News Conference.

During the conference, Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH, director of the CDC, said clinicians should strongly urge eligible patients to receive a flu vaccine, especially those aged 65 years and older. She recommends that adults in the United States who are older than 65 years get a higher-dose adjuvant flu vaccine, as data show it could be more effective.

The 2020 and 2021 influenza seasons were mild because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, data from Australia suggest the new season may be significantly stronger.

The NFID commissioned a national survey to learn who would get vaccinated, finding that 1 in every 5 adults at severe risk of influenza will not. However, just 29% of those at risk were advised to get vaccinated. Of those, 74% were subsequently vaccinated. This could indicate that clinicians play a key role in education and advising individ-uals about flu vaccination, according to Patricia Stinchfield, RN, MS, CPNP, president of the NFID.