Clover Health Flu Shot Monitor Finds Only 60% of U.S. Seniors Have Been Immunized This Season
With flu shot rates increasing only 19% over the past month, too many older Americans remain unvaccinated going into the height of flu season
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, newly conducted survey results released from the December Clover Health Flu Shot Monitor reveal that only 60% of U.S. seniors 60 and older have gotten a flu shot this season. This is an insufficient improvement from the findings of November's Flu Shot Monitor, which showed that 41% of adults 60 and older had gotten a flu shot.
The latest results demonstrate that there has been only slight progress to date on senior vaccination rates this season, prompting the Medicare Advantage insurer to urge all older Americans to get vaccinated immediately.
The Clover Health Flu Shot Monitor also found that:
- Only 51% of African-Americans 60 and older have been vaccinated, compared with 61% of white seniors surveyed
- 66% of seniors with a household income of $75,000 or more have received a flu shot, versus 57% of those in households earning less than $74,999
- Just 57% of seniors surveyed without an undergraduate degree have gotten a flu shot, compared with 65% of seniors who graduated from college
- While 75% of seniors 80 years and older have gotten a flu shot, only 66% of seniors 70-79 and 56% of those ages 60-69 have been vaccinated
- Independents 60 and older had the highest vaccination rate at 64%, compared with 61% of Democrats and just 54% of Republicans 60 and older
According to the CDC, far fewer people report getting vaccinated against the flu past late November – a dangerous trend, especially for senior citizens.
"Even in December, it's not too late to get a flu shot," said Kumar Dharmarajan, MD, Chief Scientific Officer, Clover Health. "While we are heartened by the improvement from last month's findings, it is well below the 100% level where it needs to be. As it gets colder and people spend more time indoors, it is crucial that seniors get vaccinated to prevent the spread of infection in their communities."
The monthly Flu Shot Monitor from Clover, a healthcare company using technology to improve medical outcomes, surveys seniors nationally to track the percentage of U.S. adults 60 and older who get vaccinated throughout this flu season.
Clover's focus on reducing the number of seniors who catch the flu stems from the company's commitment to preventative healthcare, leveraging data and its technology platform to proactively address potential illnesses before they become serious. As part of this, Clover's sophisticated technology has an 85% accuracy rate in identifying patients at risk of being admitted to the hospital in the next 28 days – an unmatched level of precision.
As opposed to traditional fee-for-service that focuses on "sick care," Medicare Advantage insurers like Clover often offer a range of preventative care benefits, such as gym memberships, dental coverage, and home visits. Seniors and others eligible for Medicare can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or change their existing healthcare plan through December 7. Clover members also receive free flu shots as part of its comprehensive plan benefits.
This third Clover Health Flu Shot Monitor was conducted by Wakefield Research of 1,000 adults age 60 and older throughout the U.S. The survey was administered from November 19, 2018, through November 29, 2018.
About Clover Health
Clover Health is a healthcare technology company with a deeply-rooted mission of helping its members live their healthiest lives. Clover uses its proprietary technology platform to collect, structure and analyze health and behavioral data to improve medical outcomes and lower costs for patients. As the only company whose business goals fully align with its members' health needs, Clover works with members and their caregivers to become a valued partner. This trust is built by proactively identifying at-risk individuals and teaming up with providers to accelerate care coordination and simultaneously improve health outcomes and reduce avoidable costs. Clover is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, visit www.cloverhealth.com.
Media Contacts:
Andrew Still-Baxter
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Michele Mendelson
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646-747-7163
SOURCE Clover Health
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