Majority of American Adults Skip Vaccination, Study Finds

Majority of American adults skip vaccinations that help protect against many life-threatening diseases, reports Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The study analyzed the data of National Health Interview Survey conducted during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 season. Only 41.8 percent of the adults between the ages 18 and 64 took flu shots during 2011-12 season, while just 45 percent got themselves vaccinated for the 2012-13 season, reports Reuters. 

The CDC recommends regular vaccination for pneumonia, tetanus, Tdap - hepatitis A, B, HPV and herpes zoster.

H1N1 is the most prevalent flu strain this season and it impacts children and young adults. The flu contributes to nearly $10.4 billion indirect healthcare costs and high worker absentee expenses.

About 3,000 to 49,000 Americans die getting the flu and about 226,000 get hospitalized every year. According to reports, the flu season in the U.S. is beginning to 'ramp' up and is now widespread across 35 states. The flu rates are especially high in 13 southern and central-western states (Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah).

Jeffery Levi, executive director of Trust for America's Health said in a press statement, "The trend of low vaccination rates among younger adults is particularly troubling this year, when they are more at risk than usual for the effects of the H1N1 strain of flu that's circulating. It's easy to become complacent about the flu.  We're used to it, it happens every year.  So much so that we forget that it is largely preventable through a quick shot - which I might add is now free to most Americans thanks to the Affordable Care Act."

Levi also said that many American adults skip flu shots due to its high cost. People avoid vaccination for a number of reasons. Dr Len Horovitz, researcher and pulmonary specialist at Lenox Hospital, New York said, "Mythology surrounding vaccination is the greatest obstacle. In spite of all the press about the rise of whooping cough, for instance, patients still may refuse vaccination." reports HealthDay.

Some myths that people generally believe in include 'vaccinations might cause autism', a concern that is widely discredited. Another is that it leads to illness or severe reaction. Limited insurance coverage, limited access to health plans and misunderstanding of safety of vaccines were reported to be some other reasons for skipping vaccination.