Insufficient vaccination rates for both the latest versions of COVID-19 and the seasonal flu are exerting pressure on healthcare systems this winter, according to public health officials who spoke with Reuters.
Reports of increasing hospitalizations due to respiratory infections have emerged in several countries, including the United States and various European nations. Although death rates among older adults have risen in some regions, they remain well below the peaks observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response to these challenges, Spain’s government has reintroduced mask-wearing mandates at healthcare facilities, a measure also adopted by certain U.S. hospital networks.
Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization’s interim director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness, expressed concern over the “incredibly low” vaccination rates against both flu and COVID-19 in many countries during this season. This situation comes as the world strives to move beyond the pandemic and its associated restrictions.
Governments have faced difficulties in effectively communicating the ongoing risks posed by COVID-19 and the benefits of vaccination since the global public health emergency was declared over in May 2023. Infectious disease experts and health officials have pointed out these communication challenges.
In the United States, only 19.4% of adults have received the latest COVID-19 vaccine this season, based on data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is despite the CDC’s recommendation for all adults to receive an updated shot to protect against severe illness. The rate is similar to the 17% of adults who received the bivalent booster in the previous season.
Flu vaccination rates in the U.S. for this season are nearly half, with 44.9% of adults over 18 having received a flu shot, similar to the previous year’s rate of 44%.
CDC Director Mandy Cohen emphasized the need for more people to receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine, stating that many still do not grasp that COVID-19 remains a more severe disease than the flu.
Although flu cases accounted for 5.2% of U.S. emergency visits compared to 3% for COVID-19 in the week ending December 30, COVID-19 resulted in more hospitalizations, with 10.5 per 100,000 compared to 6.1 per 100,000 for flu.
The updated shots in use in the U.S. and the European Union primarily come from Pfizer in partnership with BioNTech or Moderna.
In Europe, the flu is circulating at a higher rate than COVID-19, as reported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). In late 2023, 24% of a representative sample of tests came back positive, up from 19% two weeks earlier. While these rates are consistent with previous flu seasons, the presence of COVID-19 complicates the situation.
COVID-19 vaccine uptake remains below pandemic levels, particularly among high-risk groups in Europe, where the new COVID-19 shots are recommended only for seniors and the immunocompromised. The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized the need for 100% coverage within these high-risk groups.
COVID-19 rates are also rising in the southern hemisphere during their summer months because the virus has not yet established a clear seasonal pattern.
Recent data from the WHO shows a global rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, with 850,000 new cases and 118,000 new hospitalizations reported in the previous month. These figures represent a 52% increase in cases and a 23% increase in hospitalizations compared to November, although the actual numbers are likely higher.
Despite breakthrough infections, the vaccines remain highly effective at preventing severe illness. A study conducted by the Karolinska Institutet and Danderyd Hospital in Sweden found that the updated COVID-19 vaccine reduced the risk of hospitalization by 76.1% in individuals over 65 years old affected by more recent variants. In comparison, this year’s flu shots are estimated to reduce hospitalization risk by 52%.
However, vaccine fatigue is a significant factor affecting vaccination rates, particularly for COVID-19. For example, Italy reported that only 8.6% of the eligible population had received their third COVID-19 booster, and flu vaccination rates have also declined compared to the previous season.
