Nearly 4 in 10 seniors have gotten a COVID-19 vaccine so far this year, new survey data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests, marking a steep increase in vaccination rates compared with the same time last year. The data from the CDC's National Immunization Survey estimates that 37.6% of Americans ages 65 and older had gotten a shot of this season's updated COVID-19 vaccine by Nov.
2, compared with 22.6% of older adults by the same week in 2023. Younger adults are also outpacing last year's rollout of COVID-19 shots, though not by the same large margin.
By contrast, uptake of influenza vaccines this fall among seniors – 55.3% by Nov. 2 – is almost the same as at this time last year.
Nearly all states are seeing COVID-19 vaccination rates in adults this year that are similar or better than this time last season, except for Idaho, the CDC's survey data suggests. Rates among nursing home residents getting a COVID-19 vaccine are also better this year: 27% were reported "up to date" on this season's shots through Nov. 3, compared with 21% by around the same time in 2023.
More data on COVID-19 vaccinations among seniors is expected later this fall, as the CDC analyzes records gathered from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Health officials had been hoping for improved COVID-19 vaccination rates this year, after authorities worked to launch this year's COVID shots closer to when the annual flu shot is also shipped out to doctor's offi.
