Public health officials are warning that measles—once declared eliminated in the United States—could lose that status due to declining vaccination rates and active outbreaks in multiple states.

At the same time, a troubling parallel is emerging in older adults: fewer are choosing to receive influenza and COVID-19 vaccines—even as new data shows these vaccines are protecting them more than previously understood.

For senior care operators and clinicians, this is not theoretical. It is a measurable operational risk—and it is happening now.

A Concerning Trend in Older Adults

Recent polling found a significant portion of adults age 50 and older are opting out of flu and COVID-19 vaccination this season. Researchers have also identified declining vaccine program participation in assisted living communities as a critical vulnerability.

This shift comes despite mounting evidence:

• COVID-19 vaccination significantly reduces hospitalization and mortality in older adults.
• Updated analyses show stronger protective effects than initially estimated, particularly against severe outcomes.
• Influenza vaccination remains one of the most effective interventions to reduce respiratory complications and secondary cardiac events in high-risk populations.

Yet uptake is slipping.

When vaccine fatigue meets lower perceived risk, the consequences land squarely in long-term and senior care communities.

The Illinois Example: Incidence Tells the Story

Illinois is currently experiencing one of its worst flu seasons in recent years, with very high incidence rates across the state.

High community transmission inevitably reaches senior housing and long-term care settings.

Operators know this pattern well:

• Increased staff call-offs
• Rising hospital transfers
• Greater infection control burden
• Heightened survey scrutiny

Respiratory virus season does not pause because enthusiasm for vaccination wanes.

When Clinical Decisions Become Organizational Risk

In senior care, vaccination is not just a personal health decision—it is a population-level protection strategy.

Lower vaccination uptake increases:

• Outbreak probability
• Illness severity within the building
• Hospitalization rates
• Staff absenteeism
• Regulatory scrutiny
• Overall cost of care

Conversely, strong vaccination programs support:

• Infection prevention compliance
• Clinical stability
• Fewer acute escalations
• Better resident outcomes

Operators have invested heavily in infection control infrastructure over the past several years. Allowing preventable respiratory illness to regain ground undercuts that progress.

Measles elimination is at risk as vaccine hesitancy grows.

Senior care cannot afford to mirror that pattern with flu and COVID-19—especially when evidence of benefit is growing stronger.

This is not about mandates. It is about leadership, risk mitigation, and protecting the people entrusted to your care.

The Participation Gap Is the Real Threat

Large studies continue to show COVID-19 vaccines significantly reduce hospitalization and death in older adults. Influenza vaccination remains one of the most effective tools to prevent severe respiratory and cardiac complications in high-risk populations.

Emerging evidence also suggests vaccination may reduce broader health risks in older adults, including complications that extend beyond acute infection alone. Protection is not limited to avoiding a virus—it can influence overall clinical stability, reducing the risk of cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory events, as well as dementia, in medically complex populations.

The evidence remains strong. The vulnerability lies in declining participation.

As flu activity rises and COVID-19 continues to circulate, communities that reinforce vaccination efforts reduce disruption, protect clinical outcomes, and strengthen operational stability.

Prevention remains the most reliable intervention we have.