Validation of influenza and pneumococcal vaccine status in adults based on self-report.
Self-report of polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccination is not thought reliable because of the increased risk of adverse events from inadvertent re-vaccination in elderly people. Some studies suggest a high sensitivity of self-report and hence a low risk of adverse events if vaccination is administered when medical records are unavailable. Self-report of pneumococcal and influenza vaccination in a sample of >64-year-olds in the United Kingdom was compared with information in their medical records. Self-report of pneumococcal vaccination, in contrast to some of the other studies had a low sensitivity. The findings here support the need for accurate knowledge of prior vaccine status before offering the polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine. The study also confirms that self-report of influenza vaccination could be relied upon if rapid knowledge of uptake is required.
Mangtani
P
P
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. Punam.Mangtani@lshtm.ac.uk
Shah
A
A
Roberts
J A
JA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control; D008499:Medical Records; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010358:Patient Participation; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines