A month after federal officials recommended new versions of COVID-19 vaccines, 7% of U.S. adults and 2% of children have gotten a shot.

One expert called the rates “abysmal.”

The numbers, presented Thursday at a meeting held by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, come from a national survey of thousands of Americans, conducted two weeks ago.

The data also indicated that nearly 40% of adults said they probably or definitely will not get the shot. A similar percentage of parents said they did not plan to vaccinate their children.

  • Microplasticbrain@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    50
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    1 year ago

    Lets block the vaccine by age group and use poor messaging and then be confused when nobody gets the shot. Also im waiting till mid November so im good for Thanksgiving through new years and i suspect others are as well.

    • ElectroVagrant@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      28
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      use poor messaging

      Speaking of, isn’t the U.S. now charging for them/requiring insurance? Add that to the mix and of course fewer will get it.

      • doggle@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        1 year ago

        Yeah, pretty much any insurance will cover it in-network, but in my experience they’re not really trying to communicate that to people.

        Flu shots, by comparison, are almost universally covered by insurance or in some cases even by employers directly, and my email gets blown up annually with reminders to get one.

      • homura1650@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        No. The CDC Bridge Access Program is set to run through December 2024. As long as you go to a participating pharmacy, the Covid vaccine is free regardless of insurance status.

        You can search on vaccines.gov for participating pharmacies.

        • TheDarkKnight@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          1 year ago

          CVS tried to charge me last year because apparently my insurance is on Walgreen’s team, not CVS’s team because America is fucking stupid about healthcare.

    • NegativeInf@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      11
      ·
      1 year ago

      Just make sure it’s at least 7 days before you actually need to go celebrate something. Apparently that’s how long it takes for the booster to be effective.

    • SARGEx117@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      1 year ago

      This is literally the first I’ve heard of a new vaccine recommendation. And I had a Dr appointment less than a month ago.

  • doggle@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    43
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    Just got mine today. There were a couple hiccups for me though.

    First is communication. I didn’t know these were available until a family member mentioned it. The pharmacy has signs for flu shots, why not covid?

    Second, supply. I tried making an appointment a week ago, but they didn’t have any, so I had to wait until now.

    Finally is insurance. My provider is fantastically opaque about whether they’d cover it. I didn’t know if I’d have to pay for the shot until I saw $0 on the receipt.

    To say this has been fumbled would be an understatement. I’m not convinced that any agencies or companies are even trying to get people vaxxed.

      • Mandarbmax@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        edit-2
        1 year ago

        Fuck, wish I had known about this a month ago before I paid out the ass for my shot. Oh well.

        Doing good work helping other people not get screwed like me lol.

      • Anamnesis@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        1 year ago

        This is super helpful. As somebody without insurance, I was hoping to not have to pay out of pocket for it. Had no idea about this program.

      • Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        1 year ago

        When I got to the pharmacy I was sent to by the .gov website, I at first couldn’t find my insurance card in my bag, and they weren’t going to give me the shot, even though the .gov site said it wasn’t needed.

        And even though I had entered all the correct insurance information asked on the website form in order to book the appointment.

        Eventually I found my old card and it had enough of the right information (prescription bin, specifically) that they were able to bill my insurance.

        So, if you don’t have insurance, be sure that’s known when you book the appointment. If you do, bring your card.

        I also had 4 appointments cancelled because they were out of vaccine. Even the tech who was only able to give me my flu shot was upset, because she and her extended family were planning on getting their Covid shots and couldn’t, so we bonded over our distress.

  • vagrantprodigy
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    41
    arrow-down
    5
    ·
    1 year ago

    I went out the doctor last week, and they not only didn’t offer it, they acted like I was insane for asking, and for wearing a mask into a building full of sick people. The medical profession in the US needs a major overhaul.

      • vagrantprodigy
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        5
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        Working on both, but neither is fast. It took me 3 months to get into this doctor, only to find out they are a nut job.

    • RedditReject@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      1 year ago

      That was my experience. They gave me a flu shot, but didn’t even mention COVID. I just went to the drug store and got one there.

    • PetDinosaurs@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      6
      arrow-down
      5
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      That’s weirdly 180 degrees opposite of my experience.

      Are you sure you’re being 100% honest? Where do you live? There are ads for these at my grocery store. Not to mention the doctors office, and they still ask you to wear masks.

      Of course, wearing masks is what we should do if we suspect we’re sick. It’s the sick/well kid’s waiting room at the pediatrician.

    • agitatedpotato@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      11
      arrow-down
      5
      ·
      1 year ago

      In the US its similar. Right now im working with a young man with disabilities and even getting him the shot is tough, no ones publicly saying where its avaliabe and who its avaliabe to, and if I wasn’t digging as part of a job I wouldn’t know jack about them. It’s no surprise few have gotten these shots, few know about them, I’d wager most Americans don’t know they’re out.

        • TheaoneAndOnly27@kbin.social
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          1 year ago

          Damn! I am immunocompromised due to congentheart failure. Finding a shot here has been phone calls after phone calls. I finally got on a waiting list for when the pharmacy has it restocked. So weird how much it varies by area!

        • agitatedpotato@lemmy.dbzer0.com
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          arrow-down
          2
          ·
          edit-2
          1 year ago

          Wild, lucky you. I pass two pharmacies on the way home, haven’t seen so much as a sign about the new vaccines, the flu shot marquee message is still up. This article is the first I’ve seen about these shots even being avliable from anywhere outside of me calling pharmacies at work.

          • papalonian@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            1 year ago

            I work in a US pharmacy… it’s definitely been available for everyone for weeks now. This one didn’t even go through a 65+ phase or anything. You should be able to call and major pharmacy or go to their website to make an appointment.

            • Drusas@kbin.social
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              2
              ·
              1 year ago

              Every pharmacy near me has been sold out. I managed to get my booster because I was quick about it. A few days later, my husband could not.

            • agitatedpotato@lemmy.dbzer0.com
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              edit-2
              1 year ago

              I was told the end of October was when my client could get it by the pharmacist who takes point on working with his doctors to help with his prior authorizations to make sure the right stuff is in stock because his medicaid wont cover certain things (and sometimes they even stop covering something he took for years then we have to find a new drug and get a prior auth for that one). I have the appointment now, this is just the first time outside of work I’ve seen anything about these being out from infomercials to parking lot signs, hadn’t seen anything until this.

      • NegativeInf@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        11
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        I walked into Walgreens and got my flu and COVID shots together. I’m 30. They have big signs saying they have the updated vaccines walk in ready.

          • NegativeInf@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            3
            ·
            1 year ago

            They gave me the pneumonia shot at the same time too, even tho I’m not old enough, they said since I used to smoke, I should get it since it’s covered.

            • theotherone@kbin.social
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              2
              ·
              1 year ago

              Cool and congratulations on the quitting! It’ll be nine years since my last in May. You’re way ahead. Keep it up.

      • DoomBot5@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Wegmans. Plenty of places in my area to get them that’s not even counting doctors offices.

    • Kusimulkku@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      I don’t think there’s been a lot of interest. Nobody seems to be talking about it. I had no idea there was a new vaccine or that anyone was still given a covid vaccine

      Can you get one from private side if you really want one?

  • Tronn4@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    17
    ·
    1 year ago

    Til there’s another one. Not sarcastic but yeah I didn’t know it was available

  • UnspecificGravity@discuss.tchncs.de
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    15
    ·
    1 year ago

    What were they expecting when the government stopped paying for it? We already know the normal American healthcare system is garbage, this is the result of that.

    It cost me $400 to get my gf and her son vaccinated, that’ll get reimbursed by insurance… eventually, probably. That’s going to be a barrier for a lot of people, just like always.

  • halferect@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    14
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I think it’s the fact it’s hard to find, at least in my state it was difficult, every place either was fully booked or had none. I had planned originally to go to my community center for a Vax day and then it was canceled because they had none

    • blattrules@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      CVS has been pretty reliably on top of both of the updated vaccine rollouts and has them in stock. I got it with the flu shot a month ago now and had no trouble finding it.

      • halferect@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        Yeah I think now it’s no problem but the roll out was terrible, I bet the numbers go up now that it’s widely available

  • 👁️👄👁️@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    12
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    It’s not really well broadcasted, I got it by pure chance when I asked about it while getting my flu vax. Also I’m sure plenty are fatigued from shots at this point and stopped caring.

    • salton@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      9
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      It took incredible effort to get almost anyone to take COVID seriously when millions of people were dying. It’s probably better to just keep it out of the news so the most unstable among us don’t try to interrupt needed medical care.

  • Voytrekk@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    11
    ·
    1 year ago

    Isn’t the biggest issue with distribution? I asked to get the shot last month along with my flu shot at my doctor’s and they weren’t given any.

    • holycrapwtfatheism@kbin.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      1 year ago

      A month ago when I looked there were none. Today every pharmacy in my area has them including grocery stores. Give it another check and see.

  • MeekerThanBeaker@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    11
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    1 year ago

    Guess my wife and I are part of the 7%-ers. We got ours last Saturday. CVS has plenty of appointments. I was fine, arm a little sore the next day. My wife pretty much slept most of the weekend. She’s fine now too.

    • Wrench@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      I was cross eyed for half a day the next day.

      But a day after that, completely fine. If that knocks off a couple weeks of shitty covid symptoms, that’s a massive win to me.

  • TipRing@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    7
    ·
    1 year ago

    I got covid a week before the shots came out, I’m waiting until February per my docs recommendation.

    • Very_Bad_Janet@kbin.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      I believe this is one of the main reasons for low uptake right now… Many people have gotten COVID once students returned to school in late August/early September. They should’ve released the COVID vaccine early August - waiting to couple it with the flu vaccine was a terrible idea.

  • Schm1tty@kbin.social
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    8
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I just got mine along with a flu vaccine yesterday. At around 5pm I went to the CVS website and made an appointment for 2 hours later, it was pretty simple.

  • frickineh@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    1 year ago

    I suspect a lot of people will, it’s just been an issue of supply - nextdoor has been full of posts from people saying they went to nearby pharmacies and no one had it. Kaiser was doing it by appointment to make sure they had enough, but they just called me this week to say I can do a walk-in now. My appointment is Friday, so no real sense changing it, but it’s nice that it’s more accessible.

  • LazaroFilm@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    6
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I just got covid. My doctor told me to wait a little before getting the shot to expand my immunity

      • LazaroFilm@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        Oh I definitely will. I do NOT want to go though this again. That was my first time getting COVID and I hated the whole month it took to recover (sinus infection dragged on)

        • BonesOfTheMoon@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          I hope you get better soon. I had a very mild case of COVID myself but I am at seven COVID vaccines and counting, just got another one last week.