Prevalence of influenza immunisation in Australia and suggestions for future targeting of campaigns.
OBJECTIVE
Reports on the results of a national survey conducted in Australia, in 2000. The objectives were to determine national estimates of influenza vaccination coverage for each state and territory of Australia, to obtain information related to attitudes towards and influences on immunisation decisions and explain the factors involved with failure to immunise.


METHODS
The survey was conducted using the Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) system. The overall participation rate for the survey was 88.6% and the final number of completed interviews across Australia was n = 10,505.


RESULTS
Two target groups, those aged 65 years and over and those "at risk" of influenza aged between 40 and 64 years were defined. The overall immunisation rates in these two groups were 74% and 32% resp. The rate of immunisation among females generally exceeded that of males. A multivariate model provided the best joint set of explanatory variables for not getting immunised. These include sex, income, general practitioner recommendation, and general perceptions regarding the influenza injection.


CONCLUSIONS
This study identified important issues in the decisions of people to immunise. It also highlighted the need to target the findings in effective immunisation policies and strategies to improve health outcomes for those at risk of adverse influenza events.
Centre for Population Studies in Epidemiology, Department of Human Services, Adelaide.
David
D
Wilson
Rosemary
R
Lester
Anne
A
Taylor
Tiffany
T
Gill
Eleonora
E
Dal Grande
John
J
Litt
Ann
A
Kempe
Margaret
M
Campbell
Nan
N
Miller
Gay
G
Rixon
Jo
J
Schell
Brenda
B
White
Sandra
S
Klason
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000639:trends*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000639:trends*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D007252:Influenza Vaccines