Tetanus immunization of adult members of an HMO.
Thirty-nine per cent of 1,900 randomly selected adult Health Plan members received one or more tetanus injections during a 10-year period of continuous eligibility. Age-specific immunization rates decreased from 47 per cent for 20-39 year olds to 28 per cent for those over age 70. Nearly half of the elderly, age 60+, received a booster of tetanus toxoid rather than tetanus-diphtheria toxoids as recommended by the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee of the Centers for Disease Control. Access to care does not appear to be a sufficient condition for achieving recommended levels of immunization, especially among the elderly.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007117:Immunization, Secondary / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009922:Oregon; D012737:Sex Factors; D013742:Tetanus / Q000517:prevention & control*