State health officials fear COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy will affect flu vaccine uptake

Brandon Smith

Article origination Indiana Public Media

The percentage of Hoosiers that get their flu shot each year consistently trails the national average. And Indiana ranks near the bottom of the country for the percent of people vaccinated against COVID-19.
*(Lauren Chapman/IPB News)*

State health officials say they’re worried fewer people will get vaccinated against the flu this year.

Indiana recently recorded its first flu death of the season. And the state has offered the flu vaccine at some of its COVID-19 vaccination sites, since the two can be taken together.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said she’s concerned about the larger implications of COVID vaccine hesitancy.

“That … the political nature that has, you know, surrounded that will then bleed off into other childhood vaccines and influenza vaccines that people tend to get on a yearly basis,” Box said.

The percentage of Hoosiers that get their flu shot each year consistently trails the national average. And Indiana ranks near the bottom of the country for the percent of people vaccinated against COVID-19.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

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