Only 14 Percent of American Adults Have Received Updated COVID Booster Shots

Only 13.9 percent of the U.S. adult population have rolled up their sleeves for the updated COVID-19 shot, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The mRNA monovalent COVID booster shot, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Sept. 11, 2023 despite only being tested on mice, was designed to target the Omicron variant XBB.1.5—a strain the CDC confirmed months ago was already declining in the U.S. ^{1 2 3}

The latest data from the federal government comes after a September poll conducted by the KFF COVID Vaccine Monitor, which found that only about half of adults in the United States plan to get the updated shot. The poll showed that 23 percent of adults said they would “definitely” get the new booster and 23 percent said they would “probably” get it. While vaccine uptake is higher among the senior population in the U.S., two-thirds of this high-risk group still have not received the booster.¹

Previously, U.S. public health officials urged people to receive respiratory infection vaccines, such as influenza vaccine, by October of each year. However,  in light of far fewer Americans taking complying with CDC recommendations, public health officials now stress it’s “never too late” to receive them.¹

Regarding the sharp decline in COVID vaccinations, the CDC recently stated:

Here’s the bottom line: COVID-19 vaccine uptake is lower than we’d like to see, and most people will be without the added protection that can reduce the severity of COVID-19.⁴

COVID-19 vaccines don’t prevent every infection—that’s true of lots of vaccines—but they can reduce illness severity in people who get vaccinated but still get sick, helping to save lives, reduce hospitalizations, and prevent trips to the doctor.⁴

Still, breakthrough infections were relatively frequent among the vaccinated and those who have been boosted. According to one study, those who received the antiviral drug Paxlovid for treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections were much more likely to experience reinfection than those who did not take the drug. Additionally, 72 people in the study who received Paxlovid had received more vaccinations than the placebo group⁵

Study Links Merck Antiviral to Spreadable Coronavirus Mutations

“This COVID virus has changed, and you want the most updated COVID vaccine to protect you as we go into this winter season,” CDC director Mandy Cohen, MD said. “Second, we know that the protection that you get from either having COVID before or being vaccinated before decreases over time.” In fact, a recent study links Merck’s widely-used antiviral COVID pill, molnupiravir, to viral mutations that can spread between other people, raising concerns about the drug’s efficacy as well as whether it could be perpetuating the evolution of COVID.⁶

Molnupiravir, which is sold under the brand name Lagevrio, works by causing mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 virus’ genetic information in an attempt to destroy or at least reduce the amount of the virus in the body. However, the study, published on Sept. 25, 2023 in the journal Nature, found that not only can the virus causing COVID symptoms survive molnupiravir treatment, but use of the drug can lead to mutated versions of the virus that can infect other people.⁶

Many Americans No Longer Worry About COVID, Flu, RSV

Last year’s flu season was reported to be uncharacteristically extreme and came early in 2022. Many doctors have claimed that the rough 2022 flu season may have been a delayed effect caused by COVID response social isolation measures, such as lockdowns and prolonged masking. “Last year’s early spike was an anomaly, likely influenced by the pandemic’s impact on social behaviors and immunity,” said John Brownstein, PhD, epidemiologist and chief innovation officer at Boston Children’s Hospital.¹

With so few Americans having received the updated COVID booster, the previous year’s fears of a triple-demic, consisting of simultaneous COVID, influenza and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) infections, appear to have subsided. A new poll found that 35 percent of Americans are not concerned about the rise of these three respiratory illnesses. Megan Conroy, MD of Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center believes pandemic response fatigue plays a big part in the poll results.⁷

“People are tired of worrying about respiratory viruses,” Dr. Conroy said. “I get it. Even as a pulmonologist and critical care physician who lived and worked through the pandemic, I am tired of worrying about it, too.”⁷

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