Flu and COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Struggle Amid Mistrust and Fatigue in Ohio

The CDC reports that about 37% of adults have received their flu shot, while around 19% have gotten the updated COVID vaccine.

COVID cases are at their lowest levels since the pandemic began. Although flu and RSV hospital visits are also low, they are starting to rise, along with an increase in walking pneumonia cases in children.

Recent data from the Ohio Department of Health shows that about 9% of Ohioans have received the updated COVID-19 vaccine. In Mahoning County, about 6.5% have received it, while in Columbiana, it’s 4.3%, and in Trumbull, it’s 6.9%.

Erin Heckman from the Trumbull County Combined Health District explains that the number of people vaccinated is hard to track because there are so many places to get the vaccine. She has noticed some hesitancy, especially toward the COVID-19 vaccine.

As of September 2024, Trumbull County has given out around 175 flu vaccines and 65 COVID vaccines, which is lower than when the COVID vaccine was first introduced. Heckman believes people are still working to rebuild trust in the COVID vaccine.

Dr. Dee Banks believes that part of the issue is a lack of education and marketing about the latest COVID vaccine, especially when there’s already mistrust and fatigue around vaccines. She thinks the CDC didn’t do enough to address these concerns.

Heckman encourages people to use the new central location in Cortland for easier access to vaccines and to attend upcoming pop-up clinics. The health district is hosting a child vaccine clinic on December 10th in Cortland and a flu and COVID clinic on December 4th in Warren. In Mahoning County, appointments are required at several local locations.