Study: 61% of Vaccinated Individuals Over 50 Are Likely to Get Fall COVID-19 Booster

Approximately 61% of individuals aged 50 years or older who have already received at least 1 dose of the COVID-19 vaccine are very likely to get an updated booster shot this fall, according to the results of a poll conducted by the University of Michigan.

The number could potentially increase if health care providers recommend the updated vaccine to their patients, according to the poll results.

During the course of the pandemic, COVID-19 has especially affected all individuals aged 65 years and older, Black individuals aged 50 years and older, and those with low incomes.

The polls results show that 68% of individuals in each of these groups who have had a COVID-19 vaccine in the past said that they are very likely to get a booster in the fall.

A much lower percentage (55%) of individuals aged 50 to 64 years with a past COVID-19 vaccine said that they are likely to get a booster in the fall.

Additionally, among those who say they are likely to get a booster dose, approximately 1 in 5 adults aged 50 years or older who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 said that they are somewhat likely to get a booster in the fall.

However, there are still a large number of individuals in some groups who were previously vaccinated and said that they would not get a booster in the fall, including approximately 23% of all adults aged 50 to 64 years and 22% of all white respondents over aged 50 years.

Investigators found that fall booster attitudes also vary depending on an individual’s vaccination status.

Although 24% of individuals who were vaccinated, but not boosted, said that they are likely to get boosters in the fall, the percentages increase to 56% for those who already have boosters and to 88% for those who received second boosters.

The second booster doses have been available to individuals aged 50 years and older since late March.

Investigators also found that 77% of older individuals say that their physician’s recommendation about the COVID-19 vaccination is very or somewhat important in helping them decide to get vaccinated.

Additionally, the percentage of individuals who said that their physician’s recommendation was very important was highest for those over aged 65 years at 56%, those who are Black at 79%, those who are retired at 56%, and those with annual incomes of less than $30,000 at 56%.

The poll also showed that only 19% of individuals aged 50 to 64 and 44% of those aged 65 and older have gotten 2 booster doses.

The poll also showed that approximately 17% of individuals aged 50 years and older have not received any doses of a COVID-19 vaccination.

The CDC continues to recommend that individuals aged 50 years and older or those aged 12 years and older who are at high risk of severe COVID-19 should get their first or second booster doses if they have not already.

The poll was taken in late July for the National Poll on Healthy Aging, based at the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.

Reference

Most older adults ready to roll up sleeves this fall for updated COVID-19 boosters. News release. EurekAlert. August 9, 2022. Accessed August 10, 2022. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/961251