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On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration approved the latest round of COVID-19 booster shots amid a recent spike in new cases and hospitalizations. Following the authorization, the FDA is said to meet again to determine who it will recommend for the new shots. While most private insurance companies will cover the COVID boosters, this will be the first winter without the public health emergency – which provided the government distribute millions of free doses.

CivicScience gauged consumer interest in the latest round of booster shots, compared to the updated flu shots for this season. According to the most recent data, a majority of U.S. adults (excluding those who answered ‘I’m not sure’) say they’re at least ‘somewhat likely’ to get an updated booster shot this fall (52%), with over 1-in-3 registering as ‘very likely.’

Interest in the flu shot is slightly higher, at 59% of U.S. adults who say they’re ‘somewhat likely’ to get one – with 44% claiming to be ‘very likely.’ A greater percentage of adults have already gotten a flu shot in recent months (5%) than a COVID booster (2%).

As expected, there is a strong correlation between when Americans got their last COVID booster and their intention to get an updated shot this fall. A plurality of U.S. adults (35%) have received their most recent booster shot more than 12 months ago, while 29% have gotten one in the last 12 months. Those who got their last booster shot more than 12 months ago are drastically less likely than adults who’ve had one more recently to get an updated booster this fall (23% in this camp consider it ‘very likely’ they’ll get another one this year). Meanwhile, roughly two-thirds of adults who’ve gotten a booster within the last year consider it ‘very likely’ they’ll get another one this fall.

Adults aged 18-34 are the most likely to have never gotten a COVID booster shot, but Gen Z adults (18-24) are also the most likely to have gotten a booster shot in the last six months. Americans 55 and older are the most likely to have gotten a booster shot in the past year, and the most likely to have gotten one at all.

Curious to know more about how the ever-changing consumer response to COVID-19 might impact your business? Book a meeting today to stay ahead of the curve.