Public health officials warn that low vaccination rates against the latest variants of COVID-19 and influenza are placing significant pressure on healthcare systems globally this winter, with reports of rising hospitalizations and increased death rates among older adults.
In the United States, several European countries, and other parts of the world, there is a surge in hospitalizations linked to respiratory infections. While death rates among older adults have increased, they remain below the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Spain has reinstated mask-wearing requirements at healthcare facilities, and some U.S. hospital networks have followed suit. Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization’s interim director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness, expressed concern over “incredibly low” vaccination rates against flu and COVID-19 in many countries this season.
Despite the global public health emergency being declared over in May 2023, governments are struggling to communicate the ongoing risks posed by COVID-19 and the importance of vaccination. Only 19.4% of U.S. adults have received the current season’s COVID vaccine, despite recommendations for all adults to get an updated shot.
CDC director Mandy Cohen emphasized the severity of COVID-19 compared to flu and expressed concern that not enough people have received the updated COVID vaccine. Vaccine fatigue may be contributing to the lower uptake.
Flu represented 5.2% of U.S. emergency visits compared to 3% for COVID in the week ended Dec. 30. However, COVID accounted for 10.5 out of 100,000 hospitalizations during that time, compared to 6.1 per 100,000 for flu.
In Europe, the flu is circulating at a higher rate than COVID, and early data shows COVID vaccine uptake below pandemic levels. COVID rates are also rising in the southern hemisphere during their summer.
Global COVID cases and hospitalizations have increased, with 850,000 new cases and 118,000 hospitalizations reported globally in December 2023. Vaccines remain effective in preventing serious illness, even if they do not block infection.
While an updated COVID vaccine has been found effective against recent variants, vaccination fatigue is hampering uptake. In Italy, for instance, only 8.6% of the eligible population have received their third COVID booster, and flu vaccination rates have declined compared to the previous season.
