Clover Health’s Flu Shot Monitor Finds Only 63% of U.S. Seniors Plan to Get a Flu Shot This Season
Innovative Medicare Advantage insurer urges America’s seniors to get a flu shot in October, before the virus hits
SAN FRANCISCO (Oct. 1, 2018) – Survey results released today from the inaugural Clover Health Flu Shot Monitor reveal that only 63% of U.S. seniors age 60 and older plan to get a flu shot this season, prompting the Medicare Advantage insurer to implore all Americans to take the threat of the virus more seriously and get vaccinated before the end of October.
Notably, the Clover Health Flu Shot Monitor also found that:
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35% of seniors surveyed did not get a flu shot in the 2017/18 flu season
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8% of seniors that caught the flu once during last flu season do not plan to get a shot this year
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Of those not planning to get a flu shot this season, 43% are concerned it will make them sick, 35% don’t think it will be effective, 35% do not think they need it or will contract the flu, and 22% don’t like shots
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64% of white Americans over 60 plan to get a flu shot, compared with only 56% of people of color/non-whites
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74% of those seniors with a household income of $75,000 or more plan to get a flu shot, versus 65% of those in households earning $35,000-$74,999, and just 54% of those earning less than $35,000
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Just 60% of seniors without an undergraduate degree plan to get a flu shot, compared with 70% of those who graduated from college
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While 75% of seniors age 80 years and older plan to get a flu shot, only 69% of seniors age 70-79 and 60% of those age 60-69 plan to get vaccinated