title: Influenza vaccination status of persons aged 65-79 years--Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, February-March 1997.
abstract: Because influenza disproportionately affects persons aged > or =65 years and persons who have chronic medical conditions, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends annual influenza vaccination for persons in this age group and for all adults who have conditions that increase their likelihood of serious outcomes of influenza. Although no local surveys exist that routinely provide direct estimates of influenza vaccine use at the county level, Medicare claims for the 1996-97 influenza season indicated that 36% of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (1990 population: 184,449), Medicare beneficiaries aged > or =65 years had Medicare claims submitted for reimbursement for influenza vaccine. However, other Medicare beneficiaries may receive influenza vaccine but do not have claims filed for reimbursement. To estimate the prevalence of influenza vaccination, assess barriers to influenza vaccine use in the county, and to evaluate Medicare claims as a measure of vaccination use, the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) conducted a telephone survey of residents aged 65-79 years during February-March 1997. This report summarizes the findings from this survey, which indicate that 75% of adults in this age group reported receiving influenza vaccination during the 1996-97 influenza season, primarily in physician's offices, in comparison with the 36% of Medicare claims submitted.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D008297:Male; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines