Fewer Wisconsinites got a seasonal flu shot this year

Seasonal vaccination rates for flu and COVID-19 are down again this year in Wisconsin.

Just over 31 percent of Wisconsin residents have gotten a flu shot this winter, according to the latest data from the state Department of Health Services. That’s about 10 percentage points lower than the state’s vaccination rate prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Only 15 percent of Wisconsin residents have received a COVID-19 vaccine this winter. Dane County had the highest immunization rate, with 30 percent of residents receiving the updated shot. The lowest rate was in Taylor County, with less than 8 percent of county residents vaccinated this season.

Seasonal immunization rates have been declining since hitting an all-time high during the 2020-2021 flu season. But Tom Haupt, respiratory disease epidemiologist at DHS, said state health officials still haven’t been able to identify a clear reason why more people are choosing not to get the shot.  

Distrust of vaccines increased during the pandemic, but Haupt also questioned whether fatigue around vaccines is also playing a role.

“I wish I could point to one particular thing as to why people are not getting vaccinated and we could correct that very quickly, but unfortunately, I can’t at this particular point,” Haupt told reporters last week.

Brian Simmons, infection preventionist at Emplify Health’s Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, said local providers are also concerned about declining rates of vaccination in their communities. 

Simmons said vaccine hesitancy has not only affected COVID-19 vaccination rates but interest in all types of immunizations.

“Gundersen has been working through their vaccine program to promote not just the COVID vaccine that’s been out there, but all vaccines, from influenza vaccination, RSV vaccination for those respiratory illnesses, to the childhood vaccines that are out there to help be a layer of protection for the residents of our community,” Simmons said.

Flu, COVID-19 hospitalizations already on the rise

The impact of lower vaccination rates may be felt in the coming weeks as respiratory disease activity continues to rise in Wisconsin and across the country.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday shows a high rate of respiratory illnesses in Wisconsin, similar to national trends. Rates of emergency department visits for COVID-19, flu and RSV are considered moderate but are increasing across the state.

Haupt said the state is expected to reach peak influenza activity during the first week of February, which follows seasonal trends. He said there is an increase in hospitalizations related to influenza and COVID-19 in recent weeks, while RSV cases have not been as high.

It’s too early to tell whether the recent uptick in hospital visits says anything about the severity of this year’s respiratory illness season, Haupt said.

“Since we’re seeing such a high increase, maybe it won’t be a very long season,” he said. “We’re hoping for that. The worst case scenario with the high increase we’ve been seeing is it stretches out to be a very long season. That could be much more devastating, especially on the healthcare system.”

He said state health officials are already keeping an eye on hospital capacity due to high rates of norovirus this winter. Last month, the state saw a record number of outbreaks from the seasonal virus, which causes sometimes severe vomiting and diarrhea.

Simmons said most norovirus cases at his hospital in La Crosse have received care through the emergency department or an urgent care setting instead of inpatient treatment. 

But he said having several active diseases in the community takes a toll on hospital staffing.

“Our staff live in our communities, so those same type of pressures are out there that staff will get sick from these illnesses,” Simmons said. “That creates kind of the challenge of how do you staff areas that are very critical to your operation?”

He said Gundersen has continued to encourage vaccinations among staff and is working to ensure providers follow protocols for hand hygiene and using personal protective equipment.