Photo Credit: Rani Nurlaela Desandi

Just over a fifth of US adults aged 60 and older had been vaccinated against RSV as of March 2024, with disparities seen by race/ethnicity and age.

Just over a fifth of US adults aged 60 and older had been vaccinated against RSV as of March 2024, according to findings published in Frontiers in Immunology.

“During the first RSV season after the recommendations for RSV vaccination in US adults aged 60 years [and older], uptake shows promise but is marked by significant disparities related to race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geographic location,” researchers wrote.

The cross-sectional study analyzed data from the US Census Household Pulse Survey from early 2024. The survey included 49,322 adults aged 60 years and older. Participants answered questions about their RSV vaccination status and demographic and socioeconomic factors.

According to the abstract, the study estimated that 22.2% of US adults aged 60 years and older were covered by RSV vaccination as of March 4, 2024. Rates were 22.6% for men and 21.8% for women. By state, RSV vaccination coverage ranged from 33.1% in Colorado to 12.4% in Mississippi.

Factors Associated With RSV Vaccination

RSV vaccination was more prevalent in older Americans. Researchers reported coverage rates of 30.2% among people aged 80 years and older, 31.9% among those aged 75 to 79, 28.1% among those aged 70 to 74, 21.2% among those aged 65 to 69, and 10.8% among those aged 60 to 64.

RSV vaccination coverage also differed with race/ethnicity. Compared with 23.3% for those who identified as non-Hispanic White, coverage rates were 18.3% for those who identified as Hispanic and 17.6% for those who identified as non-Hispanic Black.

“Factors positively associated with vaccination included older age, higher education level, higher household income, unemployment, and residing in the Midwest or West,” researchers wrote. “Conversely, being non-Hispanic Black, uninsured, experiencing financial difficulties, and lack of COVID-19 vaccination were associated with reduced likelihood of receiving the RSV vaccine.”

Researchers advised that addressing the vaccination disparities identified in the study is important to decrease the impact of RSV and promote vaccination in vulnerable adults aged 60 years and older.