Clover Health Flu Shot Monitor Finds Only 57% of Charleston Seniors Have Been Immunized This Season

With flu shot rates increasing only 15% over the past month, too many older Lowcountry residents remain unvaccinated going into the height of flu season

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Dec. 4, 2018) – Today, newly conducted survey results released from the December Clover Health Flu Shot Monitor reveal that only 57% of Charleston area seniors have gotten a flu shot so far this season. This is a slight improvement from the findings of November’s Flu Shot Monitor, which showed that 42% of Charleston adults 60 and older had gotten a flu shot.

The latest results demonstrate that there has been insufficient progress on senior vaccination rates this season, prompting the Medicare Advantage insurer to urge all Lowcountry residents to get vaccinated immediately.

Nationally, 60% of seniors surveyed as part of the December Clover Health Flu Shot Monitor have received the vaccine this flu season, compared to 41% in November.

The Clover Health Flu Shot Monitor also found that:

• Only 53% of African-Americans 60 and older in Charleston have been vaccinated, compared with 60% of white seniors surveyed

• While 64% of male seniors in the Charleston area surveyed have gotten a flu shot, only 53% of female seniors have been vaccinated this season

• 69% of those seniors with a household income of $75,000 or more have received a flu shot, versus 54% of those in households earning $35,000-$74,999, and just 52% of those earning less than $35,000

• Just 52% of local seniors surveyed without an undergraduate degree have gotten a flu shot, compared with 68% of those who graduated from college

• While 64% of married seniors in Charleston have been vaccinated, only 45% of unmarried seniors have done so

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 for Charleston area seniors to get a flu shot,” said Kumar Dharmarajan, MD, Chief Scientific Officer, Clover Health. “As it gets colder and people spend more time indoors, it is crucial that Lowcountry residents get vaccinated to prevent the spread of infection in their communities.”

In Charleston, seniors can access free or inexpensive influenza vaccines in a number of locations, including SCDHEC seasonal flu clinics. A complete list of Charleston flu shot locations and pricing details is also available via the national HealthMap Vaccine Finder at vaccinefinder.org.