Who are the elderly who never receive influenza immunization?
OBJECTIVE
This paper estimates the rates of lifetime nonreceipt of influenza immunization among elderly and examines variations in the lifetime nonreceipt of immunization by gender, race and ethnic group, socioeconomic status, access to health care, and health status.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, nationally representative data on 5557 adults older than 50 years of age and living in the community from the 2000 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey are used. Lifetime nonreceipt of influenza immunization was analyzed with bivariate and multivariate statistical techniques.


RESULTS
Thirty-one percent of the elderly reported never receiving influenza immunization and 20% reported irregular immunization. Higher odds of lifetime nonreceipt of vaccination and irregular vaccination were seen among African-Americans, young-old, current smokers, and those with no usual source of care.


CONCLUSIONS
Future campaigns to increase immunization rates should be tailored to target this hard-to-reach group of individuals.
Sambamoorthi
Usha
U
Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. sambamoo@rci.rutgers.edu
Findley
Patricia A
PA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000592:standards; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000208:ethnology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D001741:Black or African American
D007252:Influenza Vaccines