Fewer people are getting vaccinated for the Flu, Covid-19 and RSV

As we get closer to the holiday season, we are spending more time indoors and closer to friends and family. It’s important to stay warm during the cold winter season. Although it’s even more important to stay healthy by getting vaccinated for the Flu, Covid-19, and RSV.

According to the Minnesota Department of Health, only 25% of people in St. Louis County have received the Flu vaccine. Next 17% of residents are up to date on their Covid-19 vaccines. Meanwhile the statewide average in Minnesota, only 15% of residents have received vaccinations for both viruses.

Erin Labat, is the immunization program manager at Essentia Health. She says the vaccination rates are low right now for the Flu, Covid-19, and RSV, is because people get the vaccine earlier in the fall.

“Typically, we have a really busy fall vaccine season from about September until mid-November-ish. Then our rates do start to decline a little bit,” Labat said. “That is because most people have gotten their vaccines right away at the beginning of the season. We have people that start asking about flu and COVID and RSV vaccines starting in August.”

The CDC and FDA just released new information regarding our 65 and older population. They can now have a second covid vaccine. However, it’s recommended senior citizens get the second vaccine after six months from their first vaccination for longer protection.

“The point of vaccines is that it helps you to build up those immunities,” Labat said. “If you do get RSV, or influenza, or COVID, even though you’ve been vaccinated, typically your symptoms are significantly less than those that have not been vaccinated for it.”

According to the CDC, only 35% of adults 18 and older have been vaccinated for the flu. While only 18% for COVID-19. The CDC estimates 40% of adults 75 and older, and over 31% of adults 60-74 have gotten the RSV vaccine. The CDC is saying their survey found many of the unvaccinated adults reported they intend to get vaccinated. Although Labat says there’s efforts to educate the importance of vaccines, one example is the HPV vaccine.

“It’s a cancer preventing vaccine and we want to make sure people have the information about that out there,” Labat said. “We encourage them to reach out to their providers, so they can make the most informed decisions. If they have questions or if they have doubts, that that’s who they reach out to. “

Dr. Matthew Binnicker, of the Mayo Clinic’s Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, says vaccines also prevent the spread of other illnesses.

“One, it helps keep you from getting typical human influenza, which can be a very severe disease. Two, it helps prevent you from spreading influenza to other people,” Dr. Binnicker said. “It reduces the chance that a human could be infected with both an avian strain and a human strain. It reduces the chance that a human could transmit a human influenza strain to an animal.”

Here are other medical related stories about the fall in vaccinations.