Most Americans will skip the fall COVID-19 booster; people who quit smoking more likely to recover from other addictions; U.S. drinking rate falls to historic low – Morning Medical Update

Most Americans plan to skip fall COVID-19 booster

Nearly 60% of U.S. adults say they won’t get a COVID-19 booster this fall, according to a KFF survey released earlier this month. The drop in intent follows changes under the Trump administration and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who ended seasonal booster recommendations for most healthy people. Political divides were stark, as 60% of Republicans saying they’d forgo the shot, while 62% of Democrats said recent policy changes make the nation less safe. Only 49% of adults said they trust the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to ensure vaccine safety.

Quitting smoking linked to better recovery from other addictions

Adults recovering from substance use disorders were more likely to stay in remission if they also quit smoking, according to a new National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded analysis of national PATH study data. Those who stopped smoking had 42% higher odds of sustaining recovery from alcohol or other drug addictions.

U.S. drinking rate falls to historic low

Just 54% of U.S. adults say they drink alcohol, the lowest rate in Gallup’s 85-year trend. The shift comes as a record 53% now believe even moderate drinking is bad for health. Drinking has dropped most sharply among women, young adults and Republicans. Those who do drink overall report consuming less alcohol, less frequently. For the first time, Gallup notes a clear majority viewing moderate alcohol use as harmful, reflecting a change in public attitudes and growing medical warnings.