Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF) Highlights Alarming Vaccine Hesitancy and Access Challenges in Latest Poll

Survey Results Shed Light on Key Barriers to Vaccine Uptake for Patients with Chronic Diseases

Informed Immunity Podcast Keeps Patients Updated

The Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF), a digital patient advocacy organization focused on chronic disease management, today released the results of a recent poll examining attitudes toward vaccines among individuals living with chronic conditions. The survey, conducted in December of 2024, underscores growing concerns about vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, and vaccine access, particularly in vulnerable populations.

While vaccines remain one of the most cost-effective tools in health care, preventing widespread illness and death, challenges persist. Over 1,600 patients participated in the survey, which focused on seasonal vaccines, including flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. A particularly troubling statistic revealed that 11 percent of respondents reported that they did not plan to receive a vaccine during the 2024-2025 respiratory season. Additionally, 54 percent of those surveyed expressed concerns about accessing vaccines.

“These aren’t just data points — these are a wake-up call,” said Seth Ginsberg, President and Co-Founder of GHLF. “The concerns voiced by patients, particularly regarding vaccine access, highlight critical gaps in our health care system. We cannot ignore the impact this will have on those with chronic diseases, who are already at higher risk for severe illness.”

Robert Popovian, PharmD, MS, Founder of Conquest Advisors and GHLF’s Chief Science Policy Officer, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the urgency of addressing vaccine hesitancy. “The data is alarming,” he said. “Around 10 to 11 percent of patients with chronic diseases engaged with GHLF have decided against getting immunized. This is especially concerning for patient populations that are already vulnerable. The survey results highlight significant issues such as misinformation, mistrust in health care systems, and barriers to access that need to be addressed.”

Despite these challenges, the survey also revealed a positive trend: 89 percent of respondents trust health care providers — doctors, nurses, and pharmacists — as their primary sources of vaccine information. This underscores the pivotal role of health care professionals in educating patients and combating misinformation.

“The silver lining is clear,” said Ginsberg. “Health care providers are still the most trusted source of vaccine information, which presents a critical opportunity for us to provide credible, accessible, and understandable information to patients. Our work at GHLF focuses on creating educational resources that are not only evidence-based but also relatable and actionable for people living with chronic conditions.”

The poll also revealed a stark divide in the perceptions of vaccine access following the 2024 election results. More than half (54 percent) of respondents expressed concerns about their ability to access vaccines, with only 35 percent feeling positive about their access to immunization services. These findings underscore the ongoing disparities that many patients face, particularly those in rural or underserved communities.

“The CDC recently reported a spike in respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19, RSV, and the flu, with rising hospitalizations and emergency room visits,” said Dr. Popovian. “The data is clear: vaccines save lives. We put vulnerable individuals at even greater risk by raising doubts and hesitating to get vaccinated, especially among the populations we serve. We must continue to advocate for vaccine access and education.”

As part of its commitment to addressing vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, GHLF has launched the Informed Immunity podcast series, which provides reliable and science-backed information on vaccines and public health. Vaccination is also a recurrent topic on GHLF’s popular podcasts HealthCare Matters and The Health Advocates. “We believe in the power of clear, credible communication,” Ginsberg said. “In 2025, we need to take a more proactive role in ensuring that communities understand the importance of immunization for their health and well-being.”

Make sure to listen to the latest episode of Healthcare Matters, where Dr. Popovian and Ginsberg discuss the survey results.

Survey Highlights

Key findings from the GHLF vaccine quick poll include:

• 11% of respondents did not plan to get vaccinated during the 2024-2025 respiratory season.
• 54% expressed concerns about their ability to access vaccines.
• 89% of respondents trust healthcare providers as their primary source of vaccine information.
• The survey found significant trust in vaccines overall, with 50 percent of respondents feeling positive about all vaccines, while 35 percent were positive about most vaccines.

About Global Healthy Living Foundation

The Global Healthy Living Foundation is a U.S. based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, international organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for people with chronic illnesses by advocating for improved access to health care through education, patient-centered clinical research, support, advocacy, and economic and policy research. GHLF is also a staunch advocate for vaccines. The Global Healthy Living Foundation is the parent organization of CreakyJoints®, the international, digital community for millions of people living with arthritis and their supporters worldwide who seek education, support, activism, and patient-centered research in English, Spanish, and French. In addition to arthritis and autoimmune disorders, GHLF supports dermatology, gastroenterology, neurology, cardiology, oncology, infectious disease, rare disease, and pulmonary patients through a host of different programs and activities which draw more than 700,000 patients a month to GHLF websites and create more than 10 million impressions a month on seven social media platforms. In 2024, GHLF had more than 1 million views and listens with its patient-centered audio-visual content, found on YouTube and podcast platforms. GHLF never asks the public for donations, receiving funding instead through governments, non-governmental organizations, foundations, industry, family foundations, and GHLF Co-Founder Louis Tharp. Visit ghlf.org for more information.

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