Wendy Wang
1,
K. Michael Peddecord2, Kathleen W. Gustafson
3, Michelle Picardal
1, Michelle DeGuire
1, Sandy Ross
3, and Mark H. Sawyer
1. (1) San Diego Immunization Partnership, Community Pediatrics, UC San Diego, P511B, Health and Human Services Agency, P.O. Box 85222, San Diego, CA, USA, (2) Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive MC - 4161, San Diego, CA, USA, (3) County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Immunization Program (P-115B), P.O. Box 85222, San Diego, USA
KEYWORDS:
Assessment, High-risk Adult Immunization Coverage, Random Digit Dialing Telephone Survey
BACKGROUND:
One Healthy People 2010 Objective is to ensure that 60% of adults aged 18 to 64 years with underlying health problems receive influenza and pneumococcal immunizations. The San Diego County Immunization Partnership conducted population-based random digit dial telephone surveys to gather baseline information on high-risk adult coverage, attitudes, barriers and sources of information.
OBJECTIVE:
Establish and monitor immunization coverage levels for high-risk adults aged 18 to 64 years in San Diego County. Identify possible strategies for improving immunization levels.
METHOD:
During the month of June 2002, interviews were completed with 472 high-risk adults aged 18 to 64 using the random digit dialing telephone survey methodology.
RESULT:
The top three underlying health problems that respondents reported were heart (34.7%), diabetes (30.1%) and lung (28.8%). Only 37.7% respondents considered themselves at high risk for complications from flu or pneumonia. Based on self-report, influenza and pneumococcal vaccine coverage levels were 38.5% and 17.8%, respectively. Respondents aged 50 years and over were five times more likely to report influenza vaccines than aged 18-29 years. White respondents were two times more likely to have received influenza vaccines than non-whites. The number one reason for obtaining the influenza and pneumococcal immunizations was that the person’s provider had recommended or offered them.
CONCLUSION:
Within this high-risk community, perceived susceptibility to influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia is low. Identifying additional resources must be identified in order to develop adult initiative and implement appropriate adult immunization interventions. Based on this survey, evidence-based interventions initiated by health care providers who work with adults would be effective strategies.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Describe the process for assessing coverage levels for high-risk adults aged 18 to 64 years in San Diego County.
See more of Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination of Younger High Risk Adults — Opportunities for Improvement
See more of The 37th National Immunization Conference
