Effect of missed opportunities on influenza vaccination rates among children with asthma.
OBJECTIVE
To assess rates of influenza vaccination among children with asthma; document the frequency, timing, and patterns of missed opportunities to vaccinate during successive influenza seasons; and project potential influenza vaccination rates that could be achieved by reducing or eliminating missed opportunities.


METHODS
Michigan Medicaid program during the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 influenza seasons.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort analysis of administrative claims.


METHODS
We evaluated the claims of 4358 children aged 5 to 18 years with persistent asthma who were continuously enrolled in Medicaid.


METHODS
Influenza vaccinations and missed opportunities assessed using procedure and diagnosis codes.


RESULTS
During the 2001-2002 season, 16.7% of children with asthma received an influenza vaccination; during 2002-2003, 21.8% received the vaccine (9.5% vaccinated in both seasons). However, 76.5% of children had at least 1 office visit during the 2001-2002 influenza season (75.3% during 2002-2003). Among children without influenza vaccination, 72.9% had at least 1 missed opportunity for vaccination during the 2001-2002 season and 69.3% during 2002-2003. The most common outcome was having at least 1 missed opportunity (39.6%) in each of 2 successive influenza seasons. Eliminating missed opportunities prior to the historical peak of influenza season would have increased the influenza vaccination rate among this population of children to 76%.


CONCLUSIONS
Missed opportunities for influenza vaccination among children with asthma are common and are often repeated from one influenza season to the next. Future studies should assess how interventions could be aimed at patients and health care professionals to improve awareness of the need for annual influenza vaccination.
Dombkowski
Kevin J
KJ
Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit, Division of General Pediatrics, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. kjd@med.umich.edu
Davis
Matthew M
MM
Cohn
Lisa M
LM
Clark
Sarah J
SJ
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid; D008824:Michigan; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D007252:Influenza Vaccines