Syracuse, NY — Concerns Over Flu Vaccination Rates

Onondaga County’s leading public health official is expressing concern over a significant drop in flu vaccinations among county residents this year, possibly tied to growing skepticism about vaccines.

It’s surprising how the debate around vaccines has even impacted something as commonplace as the flu shot. Dr. Kathryn Anderson, the county’s health commissioner, noted that, unlike the ongoing discussions regarding Covid boosters, there hasn’t been any federal backlash against the flu vaccine.

Federal data usually shows that over half of Americans receive the seasonal flu vaccine. However, this number has been gradually declining since the Covid pandemic began.

As of now, just 27% of residents in Onondaga County have received their flu shot. In previous years, that figure was typically above 40% at this time, indicating a decrease of around 60,000 individuals getting vaccinated. The remaining roughly 10% usually get vaccinated between December and May, based on federal statistics.

Statewide, the vaccination rate stands at 21%, which translates to nearly 4 million fewer people vaccinated compared to similar times in prior years.

Given this decline, Anderson is actively encouraging residents to get vaccinated against the flu as soon as possible.

Flu cases have surged in recent weeks, with the state declaring flu season officially began on Tuesday.

In the last three weeks, Upstate University Hospital reported treating nearly 1,800 patients for flu-like symptoms. On a larger scale, over 17,500 flu cases were documented statewide leading up to Thanksgiving.

In the past decades, public health campaigns had successfully increased flu vaccination rates, hitting a peak of 52% in the 2020-21 season. Unfortunately, the rates have declined in each of the following three seasons. A survey by the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases revealed that 40% of Americans expressed concerns over side effects, the possibility of falling ill from the vaccine, or questioned its effectiveness.

Anderson admits she can’t pinpoint the exact reasons for the drop in vaccinations.

It’s evident, though, that skepticism around vaccines has intensified, especially with figures like U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. raising doubts about many vaccines.

Yet, Anderson reassures that the flu vaccine itself remains largely uncontroversial, with federal officials still endorsing it.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Routine annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged over 6 months without a contraindication to vaccination to protect against influenza and its complications.”

Complications from flu, particularly pneumonia, result in the deaths of tens of thousands of mostly older Americans each year.

While vaccination rates among the elderly are generally higher, nearing 70% in a standard year, even those numbers have dropped by 23% nationwide this season, according to federal data.

It’s worth noting that flu vaccines don’t always prevent emerging strains of the virus. This year, one strain seems to have mutated sufficiently to evade the vaccine, according to Anderson.

Despite that, she emphasizes that the vaccine still offers partial protection against all flu types, which could mean the difference between a few days of illness at home versus visiting the emergency room or requiring hospitalization.

Anderson, who is an infectious disease specialist, points out that confusion around vaccines is rampant.

Earlier this year, a question arose about the eligibility of able-bodied adults for the Covid vaccine, highlighting the misinformation prevalent among the public. Currently, only about 10% of Onondaga County residents have received this year’s Covid booster.

This week, a federal panel discussed the potential postponement of a hepatitis B vaccine for newborns. There’s also increasing skepticism surrounding the measles vaccine, with the disease hitting its highest levels in decades.

Anderson insists that this recent vaccine skepticism doesn’t stem from new scientific insights.

“The main point lost is that there’s no new information coming to light here,” she elaborated. “There’s an understandable tension between personal choice and the public good… But we often forget just how deadly these diseases can be.”