Newly conducted survey results released from the December Clover Health Flu Shot Monitor reveal that only 61% of Nashville 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 41% of Nashville 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 Middle Tennessee 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:
- 64% of Nashville seniors with a household income of $75,000 or more have received a flu shot, versus 66% of those in households earning $35,000-$74,999, and just 54% of those earning less than $35,000
- Only 51% of local seniors living in rural areas have gotten a flu shot, compared with 68% in suburban areas and 69% of seniors living in urban areas of Middle Tennessee
- Just 60% of local seniors surveyed without an undergraduate degree have gotten a flu shot, compared with 65% of those who graduated from college
- While 76% of Nashville seniors age 70-79 have gotten a flu shot, just 54% of those age 60-69 have been vaccinated
- 68% of Nashville area Democrats 60 and older have gotten a flu shot, compared with 62% of Nashville area Republicans
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 Nashville 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 Middle Tennessee residents get vaccinated to prevent the spread of infection in their communities."
A complete list of Nashville flu shot locations and pricing details is available via the national HealthMap Vaccine Finder at vaccinefinder.org.
The Flu Shot Monitor from Clover, a healthcare company using technology to improve medical outcomes, surveyed seniors in Middle Tennessee and across the U.S. to track the percentage of 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. Nashville area 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 300 adults age 60 and older in the Nashville region. The national survey was of 1,000 adults 60+ throughout the U.S. The surveys were administered from November 15, 2018, through November 29, 2018.
