title: Comparison of influenza vaccination coverage between immigrant and Australian-born adults.
abstract: Australia has a large immigrant population but there are few data regarding whether influenza vaccine coverage in adults varies according to country of birth. We quantified and compared self-reported influenza vaccination coverage between Australian-born and immigrant residents aged ⩾49years enrolled in a large cohort (the 45 and Up Study), surveyed in 2012 and 2013. Estimated vaccine coverage was adjusted for age, sex and other factors known to be associated with vaccine uptake. Among 76,040 participants included in the analyses (mean age 66.2years), 21.6% were immigrants. In Australian-born adults aged 49-64 and 65+ years the age- and sex-adjusted estimates for influenza vaccination within the year prior to survey was 39.5% (95% CI 38.9-40.0) and 70.9% (70.4-71.5) respectively. The corresponding estimates in immigrants were significantly lower at 34.8% (33.7-35.8) and 64.4% (63.4-65.4) respectively. Among immigrants, coverage varied by region of birth, and was slightly lower among those who spoke a language other than English at home compared to those who only spoke English. Among immigrants there was no significant difference in coverage comparing those who migrated when they were children to those who migrated as adults and coverage did not differ significantly according to years lived in Australia. Programs to increase adult vaccination coverage should consider the needs of immigrants.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia. Electronic address: s.karki@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Surendra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karki
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia.
authors.forename: Amalie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dyda
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Newall
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heywood
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia; National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases, The Children's Hospital Network, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: C Raina
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: MacIntyre
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases, The Children's Hospital Network, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; The Sax Institute, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia.
authors.forename: Bette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044382:Population Groups; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000073887:Vaccination Coverage
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: Australia; Country of birth; Coverage; Immigrants; Influenza; Vaccine