A new study shows more Americans are opting out even as flu cases surge

• Flu vaccination rates among U.S. adults have fallen 24% since 2020, putting this season on track for a seven-year low.

• Many Americans say they skip the shot not out of fear, but because they dont think they need it or cant find the time.

• Health experts say even when its not a perfect match, the flu vaccine significantly reduces the risk of severe illness and hospitalization.

Flu cases are climbing again, hospitalizations are up, and whats typically considered flu season seems to be stretching longer than usual. But while the virus is making a comeback, the flu shot isnt.

New research from Tebra suggests that flu vaccination rates among U.S. adults have dropped 24% since 2020 and this season is on track to hit a seven-year low. The study analyzed CDC FluVaxView data going back to 2018 and surveyed more than 1,000 Americans about their vaccine habits and attitudes.

The results paint a complicated picture: more than half of adults have received two or fewer flu shots over the past five years, and one in three havent gotten a single shot during that time.

So whats going on? Is it lingering vaccine fatigue from the pandemic? Concerns about safety? Or just the hassle of fitting one more appointment into a packed schedule?

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Kevin Marasco, Chief Growth Officer at Tebra, who broke down whats driving the drop and whether there are signs that Americans might start rolling up their sleeves again.

Fewer flu shots

Tebras research found that the overall rate of flu vaccines across the country have dropped 24% over the last six years. Marasco explained that there are several factors influencing consumers decision to get or not get the flu shot.

The 24% drop in flu vaccination reflects a combination of pandemic fatigue, shifting risk perception, and the politicization of public health, he said. For instance, during the COVID pandemic, awareness around infectious disease was at its peak, and viruses were top of mind for most people.

Were also seeing more young people believe theyre low-risk, so theres even less motivation to get vaccinated. Our survey also found that more than four in 10 Americans skip the flu shot because they dont think they need it, or didnt make the time to get one.

What are the barriers?

Marasco believes that the biggest barriers to getting the flu shot arent fear theyre tension and complacency.

Many people say they dont think they need it or simply didnt find the time. Inconvenient scheduling, underestimating flu severity, and assuming if youre in good health, youre low risk are key factors. Whats interesting is we found a majority of Americans say the flu shot is safe and effective, so its less about distrust and more about perceived necessity.

Marasco also explained that while social media definitely plays a role, its often overstated.

Based on our research, only 14% of Americans cite social media as their top source of vaccine information, compared to 64% who rely on their doctor, he said. With that being said, social media does push emotional narratives and misinformation at scale. While its not a primary source, it does shape perception, especially among younger generations; it reinforces doubts or normalizes vaccine avoidance and skepticism.

Risk reduction

For those who may be skeptical or opposed to a flu shot, Marasco offers a different perspective.

If someone is opposed to the flu shot, try encouraging them to focus on credible information and speak directly with a health care provider instead of relying on secondhand narratives, he suggested.

The flu vaccine isnt about perfection; its about risk reduction. Even in years where its not a perfect match, it significantly lowers the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and complications. Its a small step that protects not just you, but the vulnerable people around you.

Nova Bus, Volvo, and Daimler Trucks are part of this week's recall

A cardiac imaging specialist shares what consumers should know about prevention, screening, and simple steps that matter

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. but its largely preventable with the right steps.

• Simple lifestyle changes and keeping key health numbers in check can dramatically lower your risk.

• Newer, noninvasive imaging tests like calcium scoring can help detect hidden plaque before symptoms appear.

February is American Heart Month and while it might come wrapped in red hearts and Valentines Day candy, the message behind it is serious. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States.

The good news? Its also one of the most preventable.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Dr. Christopher Maroules, Director of Cardiac Imaging of SimonMed, to learn more about the key prevention strategies and simple ways to be more mindful of your heart health.

Biggest heart disease risks

As the leading cause of death in the United States, heart disease remains one of the biggest risks to consumers health. Dr. Maroules shared some of the biggest heart disease risks to be aware of:

• High blood pressure

• High cholesterol

• Diabetes or insulin resistance

• Smoking

• Obesity

• Sedentary lifestyle

• Family history of premature heart disease

Lower your risk

If youre thinking about staying on top of your heart health, Dr. Maroules has some strategies for consumers to implement at any time of year:

• Optimize lifestyle habits: Regular exercise, a heart-healthy diet (such as Mediterranean-style eating), maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding tobacco are foundational. These steps reduce inflammation and slow plaque development.

• Control key numbers: Know your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and weight. Work with your physician to manage them proactively. Many patients assume theyre fine because they feel fine, but heart disease often progresses silently.

• Consider preventive heart screening: For appropriate patients, noninvasive imaging like a coronary calcium score can identify early plaque before symptoms develop.

Many heart attacks occur in people who did not consider themselves high risk, Dr. Maroules explained. Even healthy individuals should know their family history, track cholesterol and blood pressure regularly, maintain consistent physical activity, avoid smoking, and have informed discussions with their physician about individualized risk.

Early intervention is key

Prevention is one of the biggest tools that consumers have in their arsenal to fight against heart disease.

Early intervention is critical because heart disease is largely preventable, but only if we detect it in time, Dr. Maroules said. Plaque builds gradually. If we identify it early, we can initiate lifestyle changes, optimize cholesterol-lowering therapies, control blood pressure more aggressively, reduce inflammation, and monitor plaque progression over time.

Advanced cardiac imaging plays a powerful role here. Calcium scoring identifies early calcified plaque. The future of heart care is not just treating heart attacks, its preventing them. When it comes to heart disease, knowledge truly is power, and early knowledge saves lives.

Costco members blindsided as restaurant gift cards stop working

• Bankruptcy fallout: Synergy World Inc. shut down its restaurant gift card program sold at Costco Wholesale, invalidating cards earlier than expected.

• Money at risk: Unused balances may be lost since gift card holders are unsecured creditors in Chapter 7.

• Act fast: Contact your local Costco about possible refunds and bring proof of purchase if you have it.

A popular multi-restaurant gift card program sold at Costco has suddenly shut down after its issuer filed for bankruptcy, leaving some shoppers stuck with unusable balances.

Heres what you need to know if you have one of these gifts cards and what to do in the future to protect yourself.

Heres what happened

Synergy World Inc., the company behind the Synergy Restaurant Gift Card program, announced it was winding down operations and preparing to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Although cardholders were originally told cards would be honored through January 31, 2026, a surge in redemptions reportedly forced the program to close earlier than planned.

As a result, both physical and digital cards tied to the program were abruptly invalidated. Some customers say they were able to use their cards before the shutdown, while others report restaurants stopped accepting them without warning.

Why this matters to consumers

These cards were marketed as flexible dining options redeemable at multiple restaurants in the San Diego area. They were popular buys for Costco members because they were sold at a discount through Costco.

Shoppers who bought them expecting a deal are now scrambling to recover their money.

When a gift card issuer files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, cardholders typically become unsecured creditors which means theres no guarantee theyll ever recover any unused funds.

What Costco shoppers can do

There may be a silver lining in this story, and a useful tip for all gift card holders across the country.

Multiple customers report that Costco warehouses are offering refunds for your unused Synergy gift cards.

However, responses appear to vary by location, and some stores are still waiting on corporate guidance.

If you purchased one of these Synergy cards:

• Act quickly. Dont assume the card will still work.
• Contact your local Costco warehouse. Policies may differ by location.
• Bring your receipt if possible. While some shoppers say refunds were processed without proof of purchase, having documentation can help.
• Print out your remaining balance.If youve used some of the gift card, bring documentation that shows your remaining balanceand Costco should refund you.
• Call ahead. This could save you a wasted trip if your warehouse is still reviewing its policy.

Costco has a long-standing reputation for customer service and standing behind its products. But in cases like this, your timing does matter.

If youve been holding onto one of these discounted restaurant gift cards waiting for the right time to use it, nows the time to check your balance and explore your refund options.

Practical steps to trim expenses without extreme budgeting

• February is a money squeeze Holiday bills, high heating costs, and upcoming spring spending make now the perfect time to build a $500 buffer.

• Small moves = real savings Freeze one spending category, cut unused subscriptions, renegotiate a bill, sell a few things, and avoid duplicate grocery buys.

• Act now, avoid debt later A quick late-winter reset can prevent spring expenses from landing on high-interest credit cards.

February can provide financial pressures that most people dont talk about.

Youre still feeling your holiday bills, your heating costs are peaking, and youre considering a spring getaway that you might not be able to afford.

Not to mention that retailers are quietly setting the stage for the next spending season with patio sets, travel gear, home upgrades, and outdoor products.

If you can create a small buffer right now in your budget, you can change how the next three months are going to feel.

Here are some smart and practical ways to make it happen.

1. Freeze one spending category for 30 days

Instead of overhauling your entire financial life, lets just pick one spending category and shut it down completely for 30 days. Sound easy enough?

Here are the best targets to consider:

• Takeout and food delivery
• Amazon just browsing orders
• Target or Walmart impulse runs
• Coffee shop stops
• In-app purchases and upgrades.

If your household can make it happen, youre looking at some significant savings:

• $60/week on takeout $240 in one month
• $40/week on random online purchases $160 for the month

Freezing just one category typically frees up $150$300. This works because you know its just a temporary change, and it feels completely doable.

Pro tip: Get in the habit of moving the money immediately. When you skip a purchase, transfer that exact amount into your savings on the same day if possible. Watching the balance rise reinforces the habit and if you simply dont spend it, that money tends to disappear somewhere else.

2. Renegotiate one recurring bill

Internet providers, cell carriers, and security companies still have retention departments whose job is to keep you. Pick one of these companies, call them up and negotiate a lower bill.

Call and say something like:

Im reviewing my monthly expenses and comparing competitors. Are there any loyalty discounts or promotional rates available?

Keep your tone non-threatening and youll come off like someone who's just evaluating all their options.

Some very common outcomes include:

• $10$30 monthly credit
• Speed upgrade at same price
• Waived equipment fee
• One-time account credit

Running the quick math in your head, even a modest $20 reduction equals $240 per year.

Two services reduced? Well, youre near a $500 annual savingswithout cutting anything thatll youll actually miss.

3. Perform a subscription audit

Have you ever heard of subscription creep? Its when you slowly get okay with paying for multiple monthly subscriptions (some that you rarely use) out of laziness, forgetfulness, or acombination of both.

Its time to finally cut out the subscriptions in your life that you dont actually use.

Start by going back 6090 days and look through your old statements.

Write down every recurring charge, think things like:

• Streaming platforms
• Music apps
• Fitness programs
• Software tools
• Kids apps
• Subscription boxes

Then ask yourself:

If this disappeared tomorrow, would I notice?

I actually did this audit recently and cut the following:

• $14.99 streaming service
• $9.99 audio book app
• $12.99 specialty platform

Just by paying attention to my monthly subscriptions, I quickly saved $38 per month or $456 per year.

Pro tip: Instead of keeping four streaming services year-round, keep one at a time. Binge what you want, cancel it, then switch. Most platforms dont penalize rejoining and some even offer discounts to start-up again. This one habit can easily save $300+ annually.

4. Stop stocking up without doing the math

Not sure if youve noticed, but late winter grocery promotions are very aggressive. Everywhere you look you see signs for BOGO, 10 for $10, or Buy 5 Save $5.

But be careful blindly falling for these deals thinking you must be saving a ton of money.

Before buying multiples of any item, do the following:

• Check price per ounce
• Compare to warehouse club pricing
• Confirm its at least 20% below the regular price
• Only buy what you use consistently

Many shoppers easily overspend by $50$100 per month buying deals they didnt need.

Also, its worth noting that most of the 10 for $10 deals dont actually require you to buy 10. For example, you can usually just buy fourand pay only $4.

5. Institute a 72-hour rule for non-essentials

Impulse spending always tends to spikein late-winter as folks spend more time indoors scrolling on their phones.

Cabin fever shopping is a real thing and your Amazon order history will probably prove it.

So, try creating a rule for yourself:

Any non-essential purchase waits 72 hours.

Youll often find the following will happen after a couple days into the waiting period:

• You lose the urgency that this is something you've gotta have now.
• The item will often feel like a completely unnecessary purchase.
• If you still end up buying the item, theres a great chance youll find it cheaper somewhere else.

If you tend to impulse-buy at least $200 monthly, cutting that number in half is not insignificant.

Pro tip: When I feel the urge to buy something online, Ill take a screenshot of the cart, then close the tab or app. The act of saving it tricks your brain into feeling like you didnt "lose out" on the deal. Then, most of the time the I need it feeling passes and I never go back to buy it.

6. Sell 5 things before March

As Ive mentioned before, Im a huge fan off decluttering my house and garage by selling stuff on eBay.

Its a quick and easy way to convert clutter into cash.

Some of the easiest things to sell include:

• Old phones or tablets:Even older models still have value. A three- or four-year-old iPhone or Samsung device can bring in $75$200 depending on condition. Even those old cracked phones sitting in your drawer often sell for parts.
• Small appliances:Air fryers, Instant Pots, and Keurigs all move surprisingly fast. If it works and looks clean, it will selltrust me on this one. You obviously wont get retail value, but $30$80 per item adds up quickly and is way better than selling at a garage sale.
• Sporting goods:As spring approaches, baseball gloves, bats, cleats, golf clubs, tennis rackets, fitness equipment, and even lightly used weights can sell quickly.
• Brand-name clothing These are always quick sells, especially when in good condition. Think brands like Nike, Lululemon, Patagonia, Carhartt, or even quality work boots. A handful of $25$40 sales can generate a few hundred dollars pretty quickly.
• Power tools - DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, Bosch all brands that are practically currency. Even older models sell because buyers want backups or replacements without paying full retail.

Pro tip: Most eBay sellers overprice stuff by 2030% right out of the gate, then theyll wait weeks before lowering the price. If your goal is quick money, price your items slightly below any recently completed sales. This will create much faster sales, which will then create some momentum for you to find other things around the house to list.

7. Reverse-engineer your grocery list

Most people will plan their meals first, then head to the grocery store. Lets flip that idea for the rest of February and see if it saves you some money on groceries.

First, lets start with the stuff you already own.

Open your freezer and write down:

• Proteins (chicken, beef, pork, fish)
• Frozen veggies
• Convenience meals
• Anything older than 60 days

Then check your pantry or fridge for:

• Duplicate pasta or rice
• Half-used sauces
• Extra canned goods
• Forgotten boxes (stuffing, Rice-a-Roni, mac & cheese, Hamburger Helper)

Now lets build three to fourdinners around those items.

Some examples:

• Frozen chicken + rice + bottled sauce
• Ground beef + tortillas + canned beans
• Pasta + canned tomatoes + frozen veggies

When you do shop, just go for the gap items like produce, milk, or one missing ingredient.

The idea is that we turn a $180 grocery trip into a $70 fill-in run.

By even eliminating one full grocery haul you can easily save $50$100 in a single week.

Pro tip: Im a huge fan of the site MyFridgeFood.com, as it allows you to enter all the ingredients you have, then it curates some really tasty recipes based off those ingredients. I was really surprised with the quality of the recipes too, and theyre not difficult to make.