Pneumococcal and influenza vaccination levels among adults aged > or = 65 years--United States, 1995.
In 1995, pneumonia and influenza together ranked sixth among the 10 leading causes of death in the United States. An estimated 90% of deaths caused by these illnesses occur among adults aged > or = 65 years. In addition, pneumococcal infections are the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia requiring hospitalization and account for an estimated 40,000 deaths annually in the United States. A national health objective for 2000 is to increase pneumococcal and influenza vaccination levels to > or = 60% for persons at high risk for complications from pneumococcal disease and influenza, including those aged > or = 65 years (objective 20.11). To estimate state-specific pneumococcal and influenza vaccination levels for persons aged > or = 65 years, CDC analyzed data from the 1995 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). This report summarizes the BRFSS findings, which indicate sustained increases in self-reported coverage levels for pneumococcal and influenza vaccination among persons aged > or = 65 years; compares these findings with data from the 1993 BRFSS; and assesses progress toward the 2000 objective.
D000368:Aged; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines