Vaccination has become a routine part of preventative care in America. Many older adults face the decision of whether to receive a vaccine with ease: they choose to get all recommended vaccines or refuse vaccines entirely. Others, however, find the decision more complex and make it on a case-by-case basis. Experts consider adults who selectively choose which vaccines to accept to be vaccine hesitant. The term vaccine hesitancy has come to encompass a range of meanings. It may describe general resistance toward vaccines, complete opposition to any vaccines, or more deliberate and specific pattern of actions. The World Health Organization's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization concluded that vaccine hesitancy refers to selective vaccination behavior that is influenced by multiple factors, including safety concerns, affordability, and accessibility. To date, little research has focused on vaccine hesitancy among older adults in the United States. However, a recent AARP survey (hereafter referred to as "the AARP survey") shows that many older adults are vaccine hesitant. This report explores vaccine hesitancy among older adults, the attitudes that drive vaccine hesitancy, and the relationship between hesitancy toward the influenza vaccine and hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccines.
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