Vaccination disparities are evident across demographics.
February 6, 2024
As the U.S. undergoes an unusually acute seasonal surge in respiratory illnesses, it’s important to remember that there are ways of staying healthy and avoiding life-threatening complications, which become more common among older individuals and those with already poor health. So, let’s look at the vaccination disparities and what they reveal about us.
Who’s Not Getting Vaccinated?
Uninsured individuals are having a tougher time getting vaccines. Also, older adults in urban and suburban areas seem to be on top of their vaccination game compared to those in rural areas. Interestingly, non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Asian adults lead the way in influenza vaccination.
Who’s at Risk?
COVID-19, Flu, and RSV are causing concern, especially for Hispanic American adults at higher risk. They're 20% less likely than others to have received the pneumococcal vaccine. And in rural areas, around 20.5% of adults are still not vaccinated against COVID-19.
Latinos and Vaccines
Latinos in the U.S. have consistently low vaccination rates, covering diseases like flu, polio, HPV, hepatitis, and, of course, COVID-19. This not only increases disease risks but also strains healthcare systems.