Florida among states with low flu vaccination rates, COVID-19 • Florida Phoenix

Only 22.7 percent and 12.9 percent of Floridians, respectively, are up to date on flu and COVID-19 vaccines this respiratory virus season, according to a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Florida had the second-lowest flu vaccination coverage rate, and nine states had lower rates for the newest COVID-19 vaccine, according to study published on Thursday. Puerto Rico had the lowest vaccination rates, 17% for flu and 5.2% for COVID-19.

Nationally, 34.7% and 17.9% of those surveyed said they had received the flu and COVID-19 vaccine, respectively. The sample size for the analysis of influenza vaccination coverage was 136,195 and 112,040 for COVID-19.

“It is recommended that vaccination continue while viruses are circulating during the 2024-2025 respiratory viral season,” the researchers wrote in the survey analysis.

“Health care providers and immunization programs still have time to expand and promote vaccination activities to improve vaccination coverage, especially before people gather with friends and family during the winter holidays.”

The CDC also predicts that hospitalizations for influenza, COVID-19, and RSV this season will be similar to or lower than last season’s hospitalizations.

The Florida Department of Health reported 11,360 cases of COVID-19 in October, down from the 32,374 cases reported in September.

The DOH also reported an increase in the number of people who received the COVID-19 vaccine since August, when nearly 72,000 received it. So far this month, 148,704 Floridians have received the vaccine, 411,137 received it in October and 463,539 received it in September.