The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended Americans should get the updated COVID-19 vaccine. (Javier Zayas Photography/Getty Images)
Only 22.7% and 12.9% of Floridians, respectively, are up to date with influenza and COVID-19 vaccines this respiratory virus season, according to a survey from the Centers for Disease and Prevention.
Florida had the second lowest rate of influenza vaccination coverage, and nine states had lower rates for the newest COVID-19 vaccine, according to the survey published Thursday. Puerto Rico had the lowest vaccination rates, 17% for influenza and 5.2% for COVID-19.
Nationally, 34.7% and 17.9% of those surveyed said they had received the influenza and COVID-19 vaccine, respectively. The sample size for the influenza vaccination coverage analysis was 136,195 and 112,040 for COVID-19.
“Vaccination is recommended to continue while viruses are circulating during the 2024–25 respiratory virus season,” the researchers wrote in the analysis of the survey.
“Health care providers and immunization programs still have time to expand outreach and promote vaccination activities to improve vaccination coverage, especially before persons gather with friends and family during the winter holidays.”
The CDC also predicts hospitalizations from flu, COVID-19, and RSV this season will be similar to or lower than hospitalizations last season.
The Florida Department of Health reported 11,360 COVID-19 cases in October, a drop from the 32,374 cases reported in September.
DOH also reported an increase in people getting the COVID-19 vaccine since August, when nearly 72,000 received it. So far this month, 148,704 Floridians have gotten the vaccine, 411,137 got it in October, and 463,539 got it in September.
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