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Are We Doing Better Than We Think?

Muriel R. Gillick, MD; Bruce Ditzion, MD

Arch Intern Med. 1991;151(9):1742-1744.

Abstract
Patients who were candidates for influenza vaccination seen in the primary care center of a community teaching hospital were studied to determine whether there is a differential immunization rate depending on risk level. The immunization rate was as follows: moderate risk group, 44%; high risk group, 59%; and very high risk group, 81%. The immunization rate was also closely associated with the frequency of clinic visits, ranging from 34% for those with low visit frequency to 73% for those with high visit frequency. The highest vaccination rates were thus found in the groups at highest risk for influenza-associated morbidity and mortality. Although influenza complication rates are lower in the healthy elderly, this group is so large that the public health impact of a low vaccination rate will be significant. The healthy elderly should be the special targets of future influenza vaccination campaigns.

(Arch Intern Med. 1991;151:1742-1744)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Medicine, Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, Mass, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication February 18, 1991.

Reprint requests to Mount Auburn Hospital, 330 Mount Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02238 (Dr Gillick).

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