Mar 1 2024Texas A&M University A new study from the Texas A&M University School of Public Health found that only 9 percent of older Americans had been vaccinated against respiratory syncytial virus prior to this fall and winter, despite the threat of increased rates of hospitalization and deaths nationwide from the virus.
The study found that men were more likely to be vaccinated against RSV than women, and that those who were vaccinated had higher levels of concern about the disease, believed they were at greater risk for getting the disease, believed that vaccines were safe and important, and had higher levels of trust in health institutions.
"Although the vaccines are 83 percent to 89 percent effective in preventing lung infections, the CDC did not officially recommend them this year, which may have also been a factor," Haeder said. "In addition, vaccine hesitancy is growing worldwide in response to COVID-19." Haeder's study is the latest in a series of studies assessing vaccination hesitancy in the United States. Previous studies have looked at parents' intention to seek out vaccinations against COVID-19, influenza and RSV for their children, as well as adults' intention to seek out vaccinations against COVID-19. Haeder also previously assessed vaccination hesitancy amongst pet owners.