So-called ‘vaccine fatigue’ in the wake of COVID-19 lockdown policies is being blamed as the source of the dropping rate of vaccination against respiratory diseases in the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world.

“Too many people are in need of serious medical care for flu, for COVID, when we can prevent it,” Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization’s interim director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness, told Reuters.

In the U.S., rates of acceptance of the updated COVID-19 vaccine are slightly under over 17% of adults, with 15% more intending to get the treatment.

The lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the U.S. are among children, with less than 8% of children over 6 months being vaccinated.

Influenza vaccines in the U.S. fare better, with nearly 47% of adults and 57% of children being vaccinated for the 2022-2023 season.

In his testimony before Congress, former COVID-19 policy adviser to the White House Anthony Fauci admitted that vaccination mandates may be contributing to low trust in vaccinations in the U.S.

But vaccine skepticism is not just an American problem.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has not yet published its vaccination reports for the continent, but early data demonstrate low COVID-19 vaccine uptake compared to pandemic levels.

Edoardo Colzani, the ECDC’s respiratory virus expert, said COVID-19 is “a new, unwanted guest” in Europe and that “fatigue for COVID vaccination” is hampering support.

Studies from 2022 found that France, Sweden, and Spain had the highest rates of vaccine hesitancy in accepting COVID-19 booster shots in Western Europe.

Russia had the highest rate of vaccine skepticism, with nearly 29% of respondents refusing the 2022 booster shots.

Cases and hospitalizations of respiratory diseases, including COVID-19 and influenza, have increased in recent months in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

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In December, the WHO reported an estimated 850,000 new COVID-19 cases and 118,000 hospitalizations, up 52% and 23%, respectively, since November.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that emergency department visits due to COVID-19 increased by nearly 13% from November to December. Hospitalizations and deaths increased by 20% and 12%, respectively.