EmblemHealth released results of a new study that found that nearly half of New Yorkers will be more likely to get a flu vaccination this fall due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. EmblemHealth commissioned the research as part of their ongoing efforts to address the concerns raised by the CDC of a possible “twindemic” of COVID-19 and the flu this fall.
The survey, conducted by research firm Dynata, polled 1,005 adults across New York’s five boroughs to understand the impact of COVID-19 on receiving the flu vaccination and other routine care. While nearly half (47%) of respondents reported that COVID-19 has made them more likely to get the flu vaccination this year, others remain concerned about the vaccination’s effectiveness and side effects, signaling an opportunity for health care organizations to educate and engage the public.
Less than half (41%) of Black respondents reported having received the flu vaccination every year for the past three years compared to 59% of Hispanic/Latinx respondents and 61% of white respondents, with many Black/African American respondents pointing to concerns about effectiveness and safety.