Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Adult Populations in the United States, 2005–2011.

The most effective strategy for preventing influenza is annual vaccination. We analyzed 2005–2011 data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to estimate cumulative proportions of persons reporting influenza vaccination in the 2004–2005 through 2010–2011 seasons for persons aged ≥18, 18–49, 50–64, and ≥65 years, persons with high-risk conditions, and health-care personnel. We compared vaccination coverage by race/ethnicity within each age and high-risk group. Vaccination coverage among adults aged ≥18 years increased from 27.4% during the 2005–2006 influenza season to 38.1% during the 2010–2011 season, with an average increase of 2.2% annually. From the 2005–2006 season to the 2010–2011 season, coverage increased by 10–12 percentage points for all groups except adults aged ≥65 years. Coverage for the 2010–2011 season was 70.2% for adults aged ≥65 years, 43.7% for adults aged 50–64 years, 36.7% for persons aged 18–49 years with high-risk conditions, and 55.8% for health-care personnel. In most subgroups, coverage during the 2010–2011 season was significantly lower among non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics than among non-Hispanic whites. Vaccination coverage among adults under age 65 years increased from 2005–2006 through 2010–2011, but substantial racial/ethnic disparities remained in most age groups. Targeted efforts are needed to improve influenza vaccination coverage and reduce disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]