Why some people who got the COVID-19 vaccine aren't getting boosted now
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About 6 in 10 adults who previously got a COVID-19 vaccine have not received an updated shot this fall — and about half of them don't plan to get one, according to a new KFF survey.
Why it matters: The survey shows decreasing public concern about COVID near the beginning of respiratory virus season, including among people who've previously protected themselves against COVID.
By the numbers: Overall, about 2 in 10 adults say they have received the updated shot that was released two months ago, while about half say they don't plan to get it, per the survey.
- Partisanship continues to be a major predictor of whether someone gets the shot — even for those who've been vaccinated before.
- 19% of Democrats in this group said they won't get the updated vaccine, while about twice as many Republicans (43%) say the same.
- Democrats who were previously vaccinated were much more likely than their Republican counterparts to already have received the latest shot (32% vs. 12%).
Between the lines: This fall's vaccination campaign got off to a rocky start, as supply chain and insurance issues made things difficult for early shot seekers. But no one's expecting a major uptick in demand, after just 17% of the U.S. population received last year's formulation.
- About half of people who were previously vaccinated but didn't receive the latest one said their lack of concern about getting COVID is at least partly why they haven't gotten a shot this fall.
- About 4 in 10 said they were too busy.
Go deeper: About 1.8 million people got a COVID shot in late September
