Influenza vaccination among minority populations in the United States.
BACKGROUND
A large portion of the elderly population of the United States fails to receive an annual influenza vaccination. Minorities may receive disproportionately fewer vaccinations. The objectives of this study were to (a) estimate the levels of influenza vaccination among noninstitutionalized, U.S. citizens, 65 years and older, (b) examine the immunization levels among minority racial and ethnic groups relative to various majority groupings, and (c) explore potential factors that may contribute to disparities in vaccination levels.


METHODS
We analyzed data from the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey to compare influenza vaccination levels of different racial and ethnic groups among 2,309 persons aged 65 years and older.


RESULTS
Whites had 68.0% (+/- SE 1.5%) current influenza vaccination, Hispanics 61.7% (+/- SE 4.1%), and blacks 47.3% (+/- SE 4.3%). Blacks differed significantly compared to whites. Adjustment for potential confounders such as increased health risk, age distribution, perceived health status, family size, poverty level, and the number of ambulatory visits to a health care provider failed to change this difference substantially.


CONCLUSIONS
In 1996, among elderly noninstitutionalized, U.S. citizens, blacks relative to whites were less likely to have current influenza vaccinations. This relationship remained significant even after adjustments for potential confounding variables.
Marin
Matthew G
MG
Department of Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry, University Hospital I-354, 150 Bergen Street, Newark, New Jersey 07103, USA. marinma@umdnj.edu
Johanson
Waldemar G
WG
Salas-Lopez
Debbie
D
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012935:Social Justice; D014481:United States; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D007252:Influenza Vaccines