title: Influenza vaccination among cancer survivors: disparities in prevalence between blacks and whites.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cancer survivors are at increased risk for influenza-related complications. Racial disparities in preventive health services have not been extensively studied among cancer survivors. Our objective is to compare influenza vaccination prevalence among black and white cancer survivors
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a secondary data analysis of 41,346 white and black cancer survivors (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. Respondents were asked whether they had received an influenza vaccination in the previous year. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of having influenza vaccine by race.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-five percent of whites reported receiving the vaccine in the last year compared to 50 % of blacks. Blacks had significantly lower odds of vaccination after controlling for covariates significantly associated with the odds of influenza vaccination. Higher education, having health insurance, having a primary care provider, and having a routine check-up in the last year increased the odds of receiving an influenza vaccine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our analysis supports that racial disparities in vaccine coverage persist among cancer survivors, a group strongly recommended to receive annual influenza vaccine, even when predictors significantly associated with increased vaccination are controlled for.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a nationally representative survey with a large sample size, our study provides a picture of self-reported vaccine coverage among cancer survivors in the USA and the disparity that exists between blacks and whites in this population. Care teams can use these findings to better target follow-up care for cancer survivors.
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 660 West Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors: Kristen A
authors: KA
authors: Stafford
authors: John D
authors: JD
authors: Sorkin
authors: Eileen K
authors: EK
authors: Steinberger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines