Many Older Adults Skipping Flu and COVID-19 Shots, Poll Finds

A recent national poll indicates that a significant portion of adults aged 50 and over have not received current flu or COVID-19 vaccinations. The University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging found that 42% of individuals over 50 had not received either vaccine in the past six months.

Approximately 29% had received both vaccines, while 27% had only received the updated flu shot.

Regarding COVID-19 vaccination since 2021, 49% of adults over 50 reported their last dose was more than a year ago, and 15% stated they had never been vaccinated.

Reasons for Non-Vaccination Revealed

The primary reason cited for not getting updated vaccines was the belief that they were not needed. This reason was given by 28% of those who skipped the flu vaccine in the past six months and 29% of those who skipped the COVID-19 vaccine in the last year or ever.

Other common reasons included concerns about vaccine side effects (19% for flu, 27% for COVID-19) and a belief in the vaccines' ineffectiveness (18% for flu, 19% for COVID-19). Fewer respondents cited not thinking about it, wanting to wait, or issues with time, cost, insurance, availability, or eligibility.

Public Health Implications and Expert Insights

These findings suggest a need for improved communication from healthcare providers and public health agencies. The goal is to educate middle-aged and older adults on the benefits of annual vaccination and to address misinformation or barriers.

Dr. Jeffrey Kullgren, the poll's director, emphasized the critical role of vaccination:

Vaccination reduces the risk of serious illness, hospitalization, and death, especially for older adults. He highlighted the importance of individuals understanding that vaccines lead to milder illness even if infection occurs.

Vaccination Trends and Current Recommendations

The poll indicates that recent changes in FDA and CDC recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination did not significantly impact older adults' decisions, with less than 1% citing ineligibility. COVID-19 vaccination is still recommended for most older adults, including two doses annually for those over 65 or immunocompromised, and one dose for those under 65 with underlying health conditions.

Vaccination rates varied by age, with the oldest adults (75 and over) having the highest rates for both flu (76%) and COVID-19 (46%). Rates decreased with younger age groups, for example, the 50-64 age group showed 42% for flu and 20% for COVID-19. A noticeable gap exists between flu and COVID-19 vaccination rates, suggesting an opportunity to emphasize the importance of both annual shots.

Individuals with at least one chronic health condition were more likely to be vaccinated than those without. However, 39% of those with chronic conditions still hadn't received either vaccine in the last six months. The poll also identified an income gap in COVID-19 vaccination, with 19% of those earning under $60,000 never having received a shot, compared to 12% of those earning over $60,000.

Ongoing Vaccination Advice

It is still recommended to get flu or COVID-19 vaccines if not already received this season. Second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are recommended for those over 65 or with compromised immune systems, six months after their first dose of the current year's version.

Poll Methodology

The poll surveyed 2,964 U.S. adults aged 50 to 98 online and via phone from December 29, 2025, to January 13, 2026. The data was weighted to represent the national population.