Flu Vaccinations for Older Americans Drop as Cases Rise (1)

Influenza vaccinations among a high-risk group — adults age 65 and older — has declined, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics, amid two consecutive severe flu seasons that have seen thousands die from the disease.

New research shows that flu vaccinations for older adults dropped to 67.1% in 2024, down from 70.5% in 2019.

According to William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases and health policy at Vanderbilt University, this decrease is largely because of vaccine hesitancy.

“This is part of the entire confusion in our population about vaccines, their benefits, their side effects,” ...