Racial disparities in receipt of influenza and pneumococcus vaccinations among US nursing-home residents.
OBJECTIVE
We examined racial disparities in receipt and documentation of influenza and pneumococcus vaccinations among nursing-home residents.


METHODS
We performed secondary analyses of data from a nationally representative survey of White (n = 11 448) and Black (n = 1174) nursing-home residents in 2004. Bivariate and multivariate analyses determined racial disparities in receipt of influenza vaccination in 2003 and 2004, receipt of pneumococcus vaccination ever, and having a documented history for each vaccination.


RESULTS
The overall vaccination rate was 76.2% for influenza and 48.5% for pneumococcus infection. Compared with Whites, Blacks showed a 13% lower vaccination rate and a 5% higher undocumentation rate for influenza, and a 15% lower vaccination rate and a 7% higher undocumentation rate for pneumococcus. For influenza, the odds ratio (OR) for Blacks being unvaccinated was 1.84 (P < or = .001), and the OR for Blacks having undocumented vaccination was 1.85 (P = .001). For pneumococcus infection, the OR for Blacks being unvaccinated was 1.70 (P < or = .001), and the OR for Blacks having undocumented vaccination was 1.95 (P < or = .001). Stratified analyses confirmed persistent racial disparities among subpopulations.


CONCLUSIONS
Racial disparities exist in vaccination coverage among US nursing-home residents. Targeted interventions to improve vaccination coverage for minority nursing-home residents are warranted.
Health Policy Research Institute and the Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, USA. yue-li@uiowa.edu
Yue
Y
Li
Dana B
DB
Mukamel
D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States; D044465:White People
D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines