KEYWORDS:
Adult Vaccination, Community Intervention, PPV Uptake

BACKGROUND:
In Monroe County, N.Y. (population: 735,343) PPV rates among older adults were below the national objectives for the year 2000.

OBJECTIVE(S):
To increase PPV rates among older adults (population: 95,779) in Monroe County.

METHOD(S):
Interventions in primary care and LTC, public information campaign based on focus groups and surveys. Measurements: Monroe County Health Survey (RDD telephone survey) audits in primary care and LTC settings, Medicare claims data.

RESULT(S):
Overall PPV rates increased among community dwelling older adults from 50% to 73%. A large discrepancy in PPV rates persisted between African Americans and Whites (43% vs. 75%). Medicare claims data showed a 76% improvement in rates from 1997-2000. In LTC settings the rates rose from community-wide average of 62% in 1998 to 80% in 2000. In LTC, the greatest gain was among facilities (N=9) with low baseline PPV rates, for which average rates increased from 25% in 1998 to 82% in 2000

CONCLUSIONS(S):
A coordinated community wide approach increased PPV rates among older adults to meet or exceed Healthy People 2000 goals.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
To describe the elements of a successful community-wide intervention to increase PPV rates among older adults.