Flu Vaccination in 2025: Protecting Ourselves and Each Other

The flu season is an annual reminder that personal health decisions often have broader consequences. New ThinkNow research on U.S. attitudes toward flu vaccination shows that while just over half of adults received the flu shot in 2024, fewer plan to do so in 2025. This trend is concerning, not only for individuals but for communities that rely on high vaccination coverage to reduce transmission.

Shifting Intent to Vaccinate

The survey, conducted among a nationally representative sample of 1,500 adults, found:

• 55% of respondents received the flu vaccine in 2024. Uptake was highest among Hispanics, Asians, and Boomers, and lowest among non-Hispanic Whites and Gen Xers.
• Among those who skipped the vaccine in 2024, four in five do not plan to get one in 2025. This suggests that hesitancy is persistent, especially among older adults.
• Convenience is not the main issue. Over 70% of those who do not intend to vaccinate say they would still refuse even if the shot were offered in more places, such as grocery stores or community centers.

The most common reasons for declining the flu shot are rooted in personal health perceptions: believing it is unnecessary, rarely getting sick, or having never had the flu. Concerns about side effects and doubts about effectiveness also remain.

The Role of Trusted Voices

Doctors and healthcare providers continue to be the most trusted influencers for flu shot decisions across all groups. Younger adults, particularly Millennials, also rely heavily on family, friends, and personal research. This suggests that messages about flu vaccination must be reinforced through both medical professionals and personal networks.

Why Vaccination Matters for the Common Good

Getting a flu shot is not only a personal health decision but also a civic responsibility. The flu spreads easily, and one person’s illness can quickly become another person’s hospitalization. In fact, from 20,000 to 50,000 people die from flu-related respiratory illnesses in the U.S. each year. Choosing vaccination protects the vulnerable: infants too young for vaccination, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems.

Vaccination also reduces the burden on hospitals, keeps workplaces and schools safer, and contributes to a healthier and more productive society.

CDC Recommendations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine every season. This guidance includes people who are healthy and those with chronic health conditions. Certain groups face a higher risk of flu-related complications and should prioritize vaccination:

• Adults aged 65 and older
• Young children, especially under age 5
• Pregnant women
• Individuals with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease

The CDC also recommends that vaccination occur by the end of October each year, although getting the shot later in the season still provides valuable protection.

Conclusion

The ThinkNow findings underscore a troubling reality: intent to get the flu vaccine is declining, even as experts stress its importance. Vaccination is an act of personal protection, but it is also an act of community care. By getting the flu shot, individuals shield themselves from illness and help prevent spreading it to others.

The message is clear. Flu vaccination is about more than avoiding a week of discomfort. It is about protecting families, coworkers, neighbors, and communities. The flu shot is one of the simplest, most effective steps we can all take for the common good.

Download the report here.