Survey: One-third of US adults do not think their vaccine decisions affect others

Key takeaways:

• One-third of respondents felt they do not need COVID-19 or flu vaccines if they are not at high risk.
• It is important to have conversations with patients about the benefits of vaccines, an expert said.

In a recent survey, most adults said they do all they can to prevent the spread of seasonal viruses; however, 33% also said that they do not think their decision about vaccination affects others.

Megan Conroy, MD, a pulmonologist and critical care specialist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and clinical assistant professor at the institution’s College of Medicine, told Healio that the findings highlight “an opportunity to improve vaccination education.”

Among 1,007 survey respondents, Conroy and colleagues found that 33% do not think they need vaccinations for COVID-19 or influenza if they are not at high risk.

Still, 48% and 39% of respondents said they strongly and somewhat agree that they do everything they can to prevent spreading seasonal viruses, respectively.

“The reality is that getting vaccinated to any respiratory disease that you are eligible to get vaccinated for does help to protect people around you, particularly vulnerable people,” Conroy said.

The researchers also found the following:

• 66% of respondents believe they would quickly recover if they developed COVID-19 or influenza;
• 35% are not concerned about the increase in respiratory viruses;
• 25% do not believe respiratory viruses are a big deal; and
• 24% believe they do not need an influenza shot if they never had influenza.

According to Conroy, the survey revealed that “people who are not obviously high risk for severe respiratory diseases generally are not highly worried about these respiratory diseases,” and this “helps frame the way we as physicians approach the conversations with our patients about ... the benefits of vaccination.”

“It is necessary to have those personal, one-on-one conversations with your patients to help them understand the benefits that they and the people around them can see from getting vaccinated for COVID-19, influenza, RSV and other vaccines they may qualify for,” Conroy said.