KEYWORDS:
Adult influenza immunization; adult pneumococcal immunization; provider based adult immunization initiative (PBII)

BACKGROUND:
The percentage of persons age 65 and older who reported receiving influenza vaccine in 1997 - 1999 was 63.8% in New York State (NYS) and a median 67.4% in the United States (USA). The percentage who reported receiving pneumococcal vaccine was 50.0% in NYS and a median 54.9% in USA.

OBJECTIVE(S):
To increase the percentage of adults age 65 and older who receive annual influenza immunizations and one dose of pneumococcal vaccine and to promote and encourage increased levels of influenza and pneumococcal immunization of adults age 65 and older by private and public health care providers.

METHOD(S):
An adult immunization assessment tool was developed. Health care practices that provide primary health care to adults age 65 and older were contacted and asked to allow public health staff to assess the immunization records of their patients. Staff provided detailed reports of the assessments to the health care providers.

RESULT(S):
Four provider practices had PBII assessments in the four month period August - November 2001. Medical records were reviewed for influenza and pneumococcal vaccines: 85% of 89 patients seen in the last three months of 2000 (October - December) received influenza vaccine; 1% of 139 patients received pneumococccal vaccine any time on or after age 65.

CONCLUSIONS(S):
Health care practitioners in primary care provide and document influenza vaccine administration for their patients age 65 and older but do not provide or document pneumococcal vaccine administration for the same patients.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Participants will identify methods and procedures used to conduct provider based immunization initiative (PBII) assessments to promote and encourage increased adult influenza and pneumococcal immunizations.