title: Trends in racial/ethnic disparities in influenza vaccination coverage among adults during the 2007-08 through 2011-12 seasons.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged ≥6 months. The objective of this study was to assess trends in racial/ethnic disparities in influenza vaccination coverage among adults in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed data from the 2007-2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to assess influenza vaccination coverage by age, presence of medical conditions, and racial/ethnic groups during the 2007-08 through 2011-12 seasons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 2011-12 season, influenza vaccination coverage was significantly lower among non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics compared with non-Hispanic whites among most of the adult subgroups, with smaller disparities observed for adults age 18-49 years compared with other age groups. Vaccination coverage for non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic adults increased significantly from the 2007-08 through the 2011-12 season for most of the adult subgroups based on the NHIS (test for trend, P < .05). Coverage gaps between racial/ethnic minorities and non-Hispanic whites persisted at similar levels from the 2007-08 through the 2011-12 seasons, with similar results from the NHIS and BRFSS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Influenza vaccination coverage among most racial/ethnic groups increased from the 2007-08 through the 2011-12 seasons, but substantial racial and ethnic disparities remained in most age groups. Targeted efforts are needed to improve coverage and reduce these disparities.
authors.affiliation: Immunization Services Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA. Electronic address: plu@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Peng-Jun
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Immunization Services Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Alissa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: O'Halloran
authors.affiliation: Immunization Services Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bryan
authors.affiliation: Immunization Services Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Erin D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.affiliation: Immunization Services Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Immunization Services Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Samuel B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Graitcer
authors.affiliation: Immunization Services Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Tammy A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Santibanez
authors.affiliation: National Vaccine Program Office, US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Ankita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meghani
authors.affiliation: Immunization Services Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Singleton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044469:Racial Groups; D014481:United States; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; Immunization; National Health Interview Survey