EmmaLeigh Peach receives vaccinations Aug. 29 at the Howard County Health Department.
The overall spread of respiratory viruses has been fairly low this season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While national vaccination coverage for those diseases — which includes COVID-19, influenza and RSV — has remained low in the past few weeks, the organization doesn’t recommend getting your shots until September.
Still, people die every year from the flu, including here in Indiana.
Since October 2023, the Indiana Department of Health has logged 271 influenza-related deaths across the state. While the majority of those deaths (210) were listed as those 65 and older, young people were still counted among influenza- related deaths. Two were filed under ages 0-4, another two were documented for Hoosiers 5-24 and 13 were filed for Hoosiers 25-49 years old.
Last year, IDOH listed another 274 inf luenza-related deaths between October 2022 and September 2023. Nationwide, according to National Center for Health Statistics mortality surveillance data, 10,211 have died from pneumonia and influenza this year. It marks a little more than .003% of deaths across the country this year.
“Vaccines significantly decrease the number of hospitalizations and deaths caused by preventable diseases,” said Jennifer Sexton, nursing director for the Howard County Health Department. “When a large percentage of the population is vaccinated against a specific disease, it creates herd immunity, protecting those who cannot receive the vaccine due to health conditions or age.”
The NCHS recently released early estimates for the nation’s immunization, based on data from the 2023 National Health Interview Survey. It estimated 48% of America’s adults have been vaccinated in the past 12 months.
The organization also found in 2022 that 45.9% of American children 6 months to 17 years old had been vaccinated.
IDOH breaks down immunization data differently. For example, data from the state department shows 20.8% of Hoosier children 6 months to 8 years old received an inf luenza vaccine during the 2022-23 season. However, data for children 1-2 years old shows 37.7% of Hoosier children received influenza vaccines during the same time period.
13.4% of Hoosiers 9-18 years old received the influenza vaccination last flu season.
From there, it jumps to 19-26 year olds, with 9.4% having been vaccinated for influenza as of June 30. That number climbs to 11.1% for 27-49 year olds, 22.3% for 50-64 year olds and 33.9% for 65-100 year olds.
WHO SHOULD GET VACCINATED FOR INFLUENZA?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season.
The CDC recommends people who need only one dose of the influenza vaccine to get theirs in September or October.
For most adults, according to the CDC, getting vaccinated early could prove to be less effective because immunity decreases over time. However, the organization does recommend early vaccinations for children who need two doses or people in the third trimester of pregnancy during July and August, since the vaccine can help protect infants while they’re too young to be vaccinated.
However, Sexton pointed out it’s best to get flu shots early into flu season, since it takes about two weeks for influenza vaccinations to kick in.
The CDC lists three groups of people who should not get a flu shot: children younger than 6 months; people who are severely allergic to any ingredient in vaccines (which might include gelatin or antibiotics); and people who have had a severe allergic reaction to a dose of influenza vaccine (although the CDC recommends speaking to a health care provider to see whether vaccination could still be an option.)
Depending on age and risk factors, Sexton noted, some people should also get vaccinated for RSV and pneumococcal disease.
The RSV vaccine is recommended for people 75 and older, as well as people 60-74 years old with certain underlying health conditions, some pregnant women and children.
New pneumococcal vaccines have been developed in recent years, Sexton added, and are recommended for older people, smokers and people with underlying health conditions.
Sexton also recommended people 6 months and older get a seasonal COVID-19 vaccination.
Vaccinations are available at local health department agencies, and pharmacies also provide some immunizations for people 11 and older. Some healthcare providers are able to give vaccines.
BARRIERS TO IMMUNIZATION
Sexton explained local residents face several barriers to receiving vaccines.
Some residents don’t have reliable transportation to get to clinics that offer immunization services. Others aren’t able to access the services during a clinic’s usual operation hours. Language can also be a barrier, Sexton explained, as well as misunderstanding about the cost of vaccines and the availability of programs for people who can’t afford them.
The local Health Department has implemented a handful of strategies to reduce those barriers, Sexton explained.
For example, the Health Department is open during extended hours throughout the week and is located on the City Trolley line, so people with transportation issues are still able to access immunization services.
The department also offers off-site clinics at locations that could be more accessible to families. For example, the department works with every local school corporation to set up immunization clinics students can access at their schools. Some of the clinics are offered during school hours while others are set up after classes get out.
To reduce language barrier issues, Sexton explained, the department uses an audio and visual language translation service for immunization visits in more than 40 languages. The service is also used for other services the Health Department offers, and is able to translate documents for the department’s clients.
Finally, Sexton explained, the Health Department also offers vaccines to people regardless of health insurance coverage.
“We do not want cost to be a barrier for anyone wanting to be vaccinated,” Sexton said.
FIGHTING HESITANCY WITH EDUCATION
For some Howard County unvaccinated residents, barriers to medical care isn’t the issue. It’s a hesitancy to believe in vaccines.
After doubt spread over the COVID-19 vaccine in the early days of the pandemic, some people nationwide began to distrust vaccines in general. That includes Howard County residents, Sexton said.
The Health Department noticed a decrease in immunization rates among infants, school-aged children and adults. However, Sexton said, there’s been a bit of a rebound in vaccinations recently.
As of June 30, Howard County residents between the ages of 19-100 lagged behind statewide influenza vaccination rates. 19-26 year olds were closest to state vaccination rates with a 1.49 percentage point disparity, followed by 65-100 year olds with 1.93 points, 50-64 year olds with 2.56 points, then 27-49 year olds who lagged 3.86 percentage points behind statewide influenza immunization.
Sexton explained the Howard County Health Department uses education and community outreach to combat the hesitancy to trust vaccinations.
For example, she said, the local Health Department set up booths this year in places like the Howard County Fair, at the Haynes Apperson Festival and at the Kokomo Jackrabbits School Supply Giveaway.
Still, Sexton said she would like to see more education in local high schools about how vaccines work, the history of their success and how the overall health of communities is impacted by immunization.
She added the Howard County Health Department educates other community members, who are then able to spread the message about the importance of vaccines and the historical evidence that backs that message.
“Polio vaccination is a perfect example,” Sexton said. “Without it we would still have iron lungs.”
© 2024 Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.