PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 694, p5-6 - 18 Jan 2014

Flu vax coverage for asthmaticsstill below target

Influenza vaccination coverage among individualswith asthma was 50% during the 2010–11 influenzaseason, according to a report from the US Centers forDisease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC analysed data from the 2010 and 2011National Health Interview Survey to estimate influenzavaccination coverage among individuals with currentasthma aged ≥ 2 years since the Advisory Committee onImmunization Practices recommended annual influenzavaccination for all those aged ≥ 6 months beginning withthe 2010–11 influenza season.

The data analysis showed that influenza vaccinationcoverage among persons with current asthma(n = 2809) increased from 36% during the 2005–06influenza season to 50% during the 2010–11 season.Coverage increased for all age groups. Vaccinationcoverage was significantly lower among those withoutasthma (37.5%). The analysis also showed thatvaccination coverage increased as the number ofhealthcare visits over the past year increased. Thissuggests "that many health-care visits are missedopportunities for influenza-related education andvaccination," comment the authors of the report. Theyalso note that vaccination coverage across all age groupsremained well below Healthy People 2020 targets.*"These findings highlight the need to educate health-careproviders and persons with asthma about theimportance of annual influenza vaccination," concludethe authors.* 80% for children aged 6 months–17 years and 90% for adults aged≥ 18 years who are at high risk

Vaccination coverage among persons with asthma - United States, 2010-2011influenza season. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 62: 973-8, No. 48, 6Dec 2013. Available from: URL: http://dx.doi.org/mm6248a1 [pii] 803097432

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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 18 Jan 2014 No. 6941173-5503/14/0694-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2014 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved