Influenza vaccination coverage among adult survivors of pediatric cancer.
BACKGROUND
A large proportion of long-term survivors of childhood cancer have treatment-related adverse cardiac and pulmonary late-effects, with related mortality. Consequently, this population of approximately 379,000 individuals in the U.S. is at high risk of complications from influenza infections.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate influenza vaccination coverage overall and among subgroups of adult survivors of pediatric cancer aged 18-64 years and to compare coverage with the general adult U.S. population.


METHODS
Data from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were analyzed in 2013 using binomial regression to estimate influenza vaccination coverage differences (CDs) and corresponding 95% confidence limits (CLs) between adult survivors of pediatric cancer and the general U.S. population. Analyses were stratified by demographic characteristics and adjusted for design effects, non-coverage, and non-response.


RESULTS
Influenza vaccination coverage was 37% for adult pediatric cancer survivors overall and 31% for the general adult U.S. population (CD=6.3%, 95% CL=0.04%, 13%). Dramatically lower coverage was observed for non-Hispanic black survivors (6%) than for non-Hispanic blacks in the general U.S. population (26%; CD=-18%, 95% CL=-25%, -11%).


CONCLUSIONS
Although influenza vaccination coverage was modestly higher among adult survivors of pediatric cancer than the general U.S. population, coverage was less than desirable for a population with a high prevalence of cardiopulmonary conditions and early mortality, and far lower than the Healthy People 2010 goal of 60% or Healthy People 2020 goal of 80% for the general population.
Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee. Electronic address: rohit.ojha@stjude.org.
Rohit P
RP
Ojha
Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Division of Public Health, Delaware Health and Social Services, Dover, Delaware.
Tabatha N
TN
Offutt-Powell
Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health, University of Memphis School of Public Health, Memphis, Tennessee.
James G
JG
Gurney
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
D007252:Influenza Vaccines