Older adults are at great risk of developing serious complications from seasonal influenza. We explore vaccination coverage estimates in the Medicare population through the use of administrative claims data and describe a tool designed to help shape outreach efforts and inform strategies to help raise influenza vaccination rates. This interactive mapping tool uses claims data to compare vaccination levels between geographic (i.e., state, county, zip code) and demographic (i.e., race, age) groups at different points in a season. Trends can also be compared across seasons. Utilization of this tool can assist key actors interested in prevention - medical groups, health plans, hospitals, and state and local public health authorities - in supporting strategies for reaching pools of unvaccinated beneficiaries where general national population estimates of coverage are less informative. Implementing evidence-based tools can be used to address persistent racial and ethnic disparities and prevent a substantial number of influenza cases and hospitalizations.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6150049PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2018.1462067DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

influenza vaccination
8
vaccination coverage
8
coverage estimates
8
claims data
8
influenza
4
estimates fee-for
4
fee-for service
4
service medicare
4
medicare beneficiary
4
beneficiary population
4

Similar Publications

Objectives: We assessed the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and vaccine receipt in a representative sample of wet market workers in a highly dense, low-income setting. Wet markets are key in many Asian settings, including Dhaka, Bangladesh, for fresh food, including animal protein.

Methods: During early 2022, we assessed the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a random sample of poultry and vegetable workers in 15 wet markets, and investigated associations with socio-demographic characteristics and COVID-19 vaccination.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Clade 2.3.4.4b but not historical clade 1 HA replicating RNA vaccine protects against bovine H5N1 challenge in mice.

Nat Commun

January 2025

Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, USA.

The ongoing circulation of influenza A H5N1 in the United States has raised concerns of a pandemic caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza. Although the United States has stockpiled and is prepared to produce millions of vaccine doses to address an H5N1 pandemic, currently circulating H5N1 viruses contain multiple mutations within the immunodominant head domain of hemagglutinin (HA) compared to the antigens used in stockpiled vaccines. It is unclear if these stockpiled vaccines will need to be updated to match the contemporary H5N1 strains.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Achieving safe influenza vaccination coverage among pregnant and breastfeeding women is a global health goal due to the potential risks of serious influenza for both mother and child. However, vaccine hesitancy remains a significant barrier to vaccination uptake. Since anxiety represents a determinant in vaccine decision-making, this study aimed to assess influenza vaccination hesitancy and anxiety levels in this population and to explore the association between women's characteristics, their reluctance, and anxiety levels.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

[Vaccination and cardiovascular diseases].

Herz

January 2025

Klinik für Kardiologie, Angiologie und internistische Intensivmedizin, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Kirrberger Str. 1, 66421, Homburg/Saar, Deutschland.

Respiratory tract infections with influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and respiratory syncytial (RS) viruses and pneumococci as well as endogenous reactivation of varicella zoster viruses presenting as herpes zoster, are associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, such as myocardial infarction or hospitalization for heart failure. Effective prevention of these events, particularly through influenza and pneumococcal vaccination, is well established and cost-effective. Despite guideline recommendations to vaccinate older patients and people at risk, vaccination rates in these population groups remain suboptimal and below average in international comparison.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

[Current situation, challenges and suggestions for influenza vaccination among the elderly in China].

Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi

January 2025

Public Health Emergency Management Innovation Center, Key Laboratory of Pathogen Infection Prevention and Control (Peking Union Medical College), Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing100730, China.

The elderly population in China faces a significant burden of influenza, but the influenza vaccination rate among this group remains far below international recommended standards due to factors such as the underdeveloped adult immunization service system, high vaccination costs, and insufficient awareness among both the elderly and healthcare professionals. It is recommended that China implement a free or reimbursement policy influenza vaccination for elderly in border regions, improve the adult immunization service system, enhance the awareness of healthcare professionals and the elderly, and strengthen the research and post-vaccination monitoring of vaccines tailored to the elderly population to increase the influenza vaccination rate among the elderly.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!