Two thirds of U.S. adults don't plan on getting COVID boosters soon -- poll

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/two-thirds-us-adults-dont-plan-getting-covid-boosters-soon-poll-2022-09-30/

NEW YORK, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Around two-thirds of adults in the United States do not plan to get updated COVID-19 booster shots soon, according to a survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), a health policy nonprofit organization.

Only a third of adults polled said they either already received the updated shots or plan to get the booster as soon as possible, the poll found.

The Pfizer /BioNTech (22UAy.DE) and Moderna Inc (MRNA.O) shots, updated to target more recently circulating Omicron subvariants of the coronavirus as well as the original strain, were authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration late last month.

Around 18% said they would wait and see whether they would get the new booster shot, while 10% said they would only get it if it was required. Around 12% of adults surveyed said they would definitely not get the shot, while 27% said they were not eligible because they were not fully vaccinated.

Another take on the poll results from this thread: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217211283

[Ocelot II]

1. I don't get that; I practically camped out in front of Walgreen's,

like I was trying to get concert tickets or the newest iPhone. Got mine within a week of its availability. I just don't understand people sometimes.

[W_HAMILTON]

42. Did you have to schedule an appointment or can you just walk in and get the booster?

[Ocelot II]

44. I scheduled an appointment on line. Not sure whether you can walk in.

[kskiska]

54. I walked into Walmart and got mine.

[leftstreet]

2. Well, the pandemic's been declared "over"

so how did they think this would go?

[jimfields33]

10. Yep. I trust President Biden. He hasn't steered us wrong at all.

He said it was over two weeks ago. And the media very rarely talks about the virus at all. Most of the population has moved on.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

22. Exactly.

[Elessar Zappa]

33. The pandemic IS over.

It doesn’t mean people should stop getting boosters. Don’t put this on Biden.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

39. Because it's an endemic.

So you need to get boosters likely every year like you do for flu. Which a lot of people don't do. Shouldn't surprise us.

[walkingman]

3. I still do not understand the anti-vax attitudes of people. It just seems silly to me. Why would

anyone want to even take a chance?

[marmar]

12. Even among people who aren't anti-vax, there seems to be much apathy about the new booster shots.

[Johnny2X2X]

4. Crazy

I got my new one last night. With the Holidays coming up, not is the perfect time to get the shot.

Also of note, Republicans are dying from Covid at a much higher rate than Democrats.

[Sympthsical]

5. Got mine yesterday

I was the only person floating around the pharmacy.

I just don't think the new booster has been advertised very well. I've been making a note to tell friends and family, and they were all surprised to learn of a new booster that's better with Omicron.

[SoCalDavidS]

21. Bullshit

We're a STUPID Fucked up country, and the vast majority of people just don't care.

[Sympthsical]

25. What do you think this says?

Does this data scream people know all about it to you?

"At least 7.6 million people have received an updated Covid booster since the start of September, according to data released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That number represents around 3.6% of people currently eligible to receive the shots in the U.S.

The data does not include people who received updated Pfizer-BioNTech boosters in Idaho and Texas, the CDC said, so it is likely an underestimate.

The CDC signed off on updated versions of Pfizer’s and Moderna’s booster shots on Sept. 1, and pharmacies and other vaccination sites began administering the new shots around Labor Day weekend. The bivalent shots target both the original coronavirus strain and the currently circulating omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5."

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/updated-covid-booster-shots-doses-administered-cdc-rcna48960

I read the news every single morning, and knowledge about the new bivalent booster completely slid past me. As soon as I found out about it (from WhiskeyGrinder here), I scheduled the appointment. I'm sorry, but that certainly looks like someone hasn't been doing a very good job of getting the word out about it. There are a lot of people out there who would happily get it before winter comes if they knew it was there.

Oddly enough, I have an exam on Covid for microbiology later this morning. I've been intensely studying the thing for two weeks. The new booster has never come up in class.

[SoCalDavidS]

27. If People Cared, They Would Know

Everyone has moved on. They're TIRED of all the Covid news. They want to pretend as if the last 30 months Never happened.

Around 1/3rd of Americans NEVER even were vaccinated once.

I'm sorry to disagree, but the last 30 months, and all the fucking bickering over mandates and masks, has shown me what kind of country we are. How much many of us care about our fellow humans, or even ourselves.

[Sympthsical]

31. So maybe don't pencil you in for outreach coordinator

Granted, I have never tried the, "You're stupid and you're dumb and you're stupid" to let others know about a vaccine booster, but I'm willing to try any tactic once. A novel approach for a novel virus.

Why is it difficult to acknowledge that maybe outreach has not been as good as it could be, and that maybe we should fix that? This past weekend, I've been spreading the news around and quite a few people who are totally willing to get boosters just didn't know there was a new one.

Feels like misdirected hostility when we're talking about people who are 100% pro-vaccine that just aren't being reached the way we want.

[2naSalit]

6. Getting mine next week...

Made my appt. yesterday, getting the flu shot too, which I never get but, getting older and with so many not wearing masks and getting sick around here, I'm not taking any chances this year.

[Johonny]

7. Meanwhile, I'm waiting for them to make it available to 12 and under.

I don't understand why people don't get flu shots and covid shots. Neither is fun to get.

[Wavelight]

8. I'm not getting it

I had Covid four months ago and have already received three vaccinations (Moderna). I’m in my 50s and very healthy.

I am getting a flu shot tomorrow. I would likely get any Covid “booster“ next year, and likely make it an annual occurrence like the flu vaccine.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

9. Why not?

[Disaffected]

29. Indeed, why not??

BTW, being "very healthy" is not a sensible reason for refusing vaccination.

[Wavelight]

55. I haven't refused vaccination

I’ve been vaccinated and “boosted“. I also had omicron this summer. This combination of vaccine-based and “natural“ immunity confers the greatest protection.

https://news.weill.cornell.edu/news/2022/06/qatar-omicron-wave-study-shows-slow-decline-of-natural-immunity-rapid-decline-of

It is also well-established that comorbidities are associated with worse Covid outcomes. So, though there’s no guarantee, there is a benefit to “being very healthy”

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7101a4.htm

[Disaffected]

56. What I meant was,

why not get the booster now (as healthcare authorities recommend)?

Also, I never would claim there is no benefit to "being very healthy", Covid related or not. What I meant was being healthy is no guarantee against a bad Covid outcome.

[dawg]

36. I'm in the same boat as you, but I'm still getting my bivalent booster in a few more weeks.

I'm delaying it a bit in the hopes that it will be closer to peak effectiveness when the Winter wave hits than if I had gotten it earlier.

[hamsterjill]

59. I'm not either - at least not now.

I am vaccinated and boosted and had COVID in July. I am a horrible needle phobe and I am tired of having to live fearing the next time I have to get jabbed.

I will watch the climate for COVID as we get into winter and if I feel concerned, I will rethink my decision.

[DURHAM D]

11. My Walgreens will not give me the booster.

They have posted "CDC Guidelines" that mean only people with certain existing conditions can get the shot. I am over 75 but that does not count - don't qualify because I am not terminal.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

13. Your Walgreens is doing it wrong.

Anyone 12 or older who had their primary vaccine series or last booster more than 2 months ago is eligible for the bivalent booster.

[DURHAM D]

14. I just checked and you are correct.

Why would they lie? When they showed me the guidelines that were taped to the counter I commented that it looked homemade not corporate produced.

[Celerity]

34. Threaten to sue them for malpractice/illicit denial of care. Get up in their face. Have a

barrister (attorney) number and name to show them. Also threaten to go to your local media and expose their shit. Have those numbers ( and even better, a name or two of a media contact) on display in your phone as well. Also have their corporate number and say you will call them as well. Inject that fear into them, especially the manager if they get involved and refuse to allow you to get the booster.

Be assertive and proactive. Assertive and proactive works in life, often wins the day. Film the whole thing too. Make them squirm if they double down and try to fuck you about. Bring a friend along to back you up and to film it all as well. Make sure to get all their names (and repeat it back to them real time) on record.


Good luck!

[W_HAMILTON]

43. I had a family member of mine turned away from Walgreens...

...after they tried to get their COVID vaccine and gave him some flimsy excuse that did not match up with federal guidelines. I called the store in question the day or so afterwards and they confirmed that he should have been given the shot and that the "floater" pharmacist in question was in the wrong. I lodged a complaint against the "floater" pharmacist that was giving out bad information, both with the state board and Walgreens corporate.

I would call to another Walgreens to confirm that your knowledge of the guidelines is correct and if they confirm that you are right, you should do the same. Not sure if Walgreens just has some uninformed/dumb pharmacists or maybe even some MAGA types doing their part to ensure people are not appropriately vaccinated...

[Meowmee]

51. Call other pharmacies and your doctor or a clinic

They are not giving you correct info. Anyone over 12 can now get the new bivalent booster if it has been 3 months since your last booster. You should also voice a complaint against them with the corporate office, call them, and report them to cdc and local health board. Good luck 😀

I am sorry that you are facing this. The whole system is totally messed up here. It should be easy to walk into any pharmacy or medical center to get these vaccines and others.

[RKP5637]

16. That's strange. My Walgreens will give the shot. n/t

[DURHAM D]

18. Perhaps the problem is that the head pharmacist is an asshole.

He was assigned to this store about two years ago and he has to drive more than an hour each way to work. He is near retirement age so he is just generally pissed all of the time.

[RKP5637]

19. Yeah, I think that's the problem! n/t

[Meowmee]

52. Call corporate and complain

About him.

[Raftergirl]

24. Go to another pharmacy. Everyone over the age of 12 can get the new booster.

My son (29) and his gf (28) just got theirs in Saturday.

[DURHAM D]

28. I am in a small town and want the Moderna booster. Walgreens

is the only place with the Moderna booster at this time.

[Ocelot II]

38. Get the Pfizer one, then; it probably won't make any difference

and it's definitely better than nothing.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

40. Some CVS locations have Moderna.

[DURHAM D]

41. No CVS in the area. nt

[Ocelot II]

37. Try another one. I got mine at a Walgreens, no problem.

I'm old but I don't have any other conditions and my appointment wasn't questioned. There were also several young people waiting for theirs. I think your store misunderstood the CDC guidance as "and" and not "or."

[Emile]

15. We are going Wednesday for our fifth shot.

Plan on getting the senior flu shot on the same day, but in my other arm.

[ProfessorGAC]

35. Got Mine A Few Weeks Ago

My wife got her booster last week. We both got flu shots, too.
Seems prudent.

[SCantiGOP]

17. I had to cancel mine

The day I was scheduled at Walgreens I tested positive. Had been sick for 2-3 days but very sick the day before.
My CDC guidance is now to wait 3 months to get it. I plan to get it early December so it will be fully effective in time for Christmas get-togethers.

On edit: one bad sick day, and other than the 2-3 week fatigue it wasn’t any worse than a really bad head cold. I am double vaxxed and boosted, and this was my first infection.

[XanaDUer2]

45. Are you having any loss of smell or taste

Or headaches? I am

[SCantiGOP]

46. No. Neither did my wife, who also had it

But my daughter and her husband said that it took more than a month for them to regain their normal taste and smell.
I spent an entire day on the sofa sleeping and wiping my nose, and I was convinced I had gotten my first cold of the last two years. Two days later I tested positive for the first time.

[XanaDUer2]

48. Isn't testing positive so disheartening?

Our hearts sank. Mr X got paxlovid twice

[SCantiGOP]

49. In my case, I was glad

I had already gotten over the worst of the illness, so I figured I might as well get some of the natural immunity.
Weird to think how the diagnosis for a 70 year old like me could have been a death sentence in the pre-vax days of 2020.

[XanaDUer2]

50. Mr x is 70

I'm still anxious about his health due to this. We didn't test right away.

[woodsprite]

20. I'm getting mine as soon as I can.

Just heard this morning that 7 of our extended circle of friends have tested positive or are undergoing treatment/quarantine. Add hubby and I in, and we’re up to 9. I’m still testing positive on day 17 with sinus congestion and intermittent taste/smell issues. Hubby has 2 more days of Paxlovid to go.

[VGNonly]

23. I had shot 5

Sunday. I had Moderna 4 times, the last was Pfizer. Very slight arm pain, no fever or swelling.

[Raftergirl]

26. Both H and I had ours about 3 weeks ago but he got CV 6 days after getting boosted.

But, he had a very mild case and though I was exposed for 4 days before he found out his brother, who he spent time with indoors and at a football game in the Dome, tested positive,) I never tested positive. I believe that even though we were only 6 days post booster when he tested positive, it helped me stay negative and him to have a very mild case.

He finally tested negative this morning after 13 days.

We are still going to mask around each other and take the other precautions in case of rebound.

[Efilroft Sul]

30. We all got shot 5 here last week. Son #1 at college will get his when he visits home next week.

Everybody else in our extended family, even the smart ones? I don't think they're getting it, and they're all older than us.

SMDH.

[Elessar Zappa]

32. Dumb.

[JCMach1]

47. Cue flu season outbreak in 3...2...1...

[Meowmee]

53. No surprise

It is pure stupidity as well as narcissism for the most part. The whole system of giving and making the vaccines available is very messed up.

My brother predicted before the vaccines even came out that Americans would be too stupid to take it.

And here we are with pandemic being “proclaimed over” by many when hundreds are still dying each day and new variants are brewing because so many have not even been vaccinated at all or have failed to get the boosters and go unmasked everywhere.

It has been lies and negligent blunders mostly from the start that created this situation along with stupidity and narcissism of people here.

Last I checked only 30% had even had one booster. And this article says 27% have not been vaccinated at all.

[Emile]

57. Count me as one out of three who want to live.

Does that make me pro life?

[DFW]

58. Oh, no, not again

I am always getting accused of being in some minority percent, and since I am getting my next booster as soon as the doc here recommended (November), I will do so. I'm in the top 33%. No doubt there will be some Republican somewhere to trash me for it.

[liberal_mama]

60. My father had all his vaccines and boosters, but is currently on ventilator in ICU with severe Covid

I'm losing faith in the vaccines. I'm waiting and seeing as I had severe reactions with previous Pfizer vaccines.

[txwhitedove]

61. I just got booster and flu shot today at CVS. Made appointment online yesterday