Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

February 19, 2021

Decline in Receipt of Vaccines by Medicare Beneficiaries During the COVID-19 Pandemic – United States, 2020

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During the first week after the national COVID-19 emergency declaration in March 2020, weekly vaccination rates for bacterial pneumonia, tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis, and shingles  among Medicare beneficiaries over the age of 65 declined by 25% to 62% compared with the corresponding period in 2019. Vaccination rates among racial and ethnic minority adults were lower than were those among white adults. By mid-April 2020, vaccination rates reached low points of 70% to 89% below 2019 rates. Vaccination rates partially recovered gradually during the period between May and July 2020, when data collection ended.

Hong et al. (Feb 19, 2021). Decline in Receipt of Vaccines by Medicare Beneficiaries During the COVID-19 Pandemic – United States, 2020. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7007a4