Seniors in Some Industrialized Nations Skip Flu Shots

This article is published in collaboration with Statista

by Katharina Buchholz

Catching the flu might be a hassle for some, but it can be a life-threatening condition for others. Small children, people with pre-existing conditions and the elderly are at an increased risk of dying from a serious flu infection. Up to 650,000 people succumb to the disease every year around the globe. In industrialized countries, most of these deaths occur in the age range of 65 and older. Knowing this, it is surprising how few elderly people are regularly vaccinated against the disease even in more prosperous nations.

In fact, immunization rates vary widely across the globe. The Mexico and South Korea top the list of the best vaccination rates among OECD nations. The United Kingdom, as well as Ireland and Denmark, are also among the group of countries with immunization rates above 70 percent among seniors. Three quarters of those aged 65 and over were vaccinated in the United States and Spain as of 2024. Rates are surprisingly low in countries like France or Germany, at only 54 and 38 percent, respectively. According to data from the OECD, Eastern European countries and Turkey have the lowest rates in the ranking.

During the coronavirus pandemic, flu shots were deemed "more important than ever", because they protect from dangerous co-infections with both viruses that can be especially lethal for older people. Nations that vaccinate a lot of older people often do so as a result of government immunization programs directly communicating to the elderly and offering shots for free.

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