BACKGROUND:
Influenza vaccination is recommended for all people age 65 and over, yet racial/ethnic disparities in coverage exist.

OBJECTIVE:
To investigate influenza vaccination knowledge, attitudes, and practices among African American, Hispanic, and Caucasian seniors as part of the baseline survey conducted to evaluate the Racial and Ethnic Adult Disparities in Immunization Initiative (READII).

METHOD:
Using stratified random sampling, we surveyed Medicare beneficiaries in the five READII demonstration sites. From February to April 2003, we conducted a baseline survey by telephone using computer assisted interviewing.

RESULT:
The response rate was 61%. We surveyed 4633 Medicare beneficiaries. Nine percent (9%) of Caucasians, 22% of African Americans, and 15% of Hispanics in our sample had never received a flu shot. Among those who had never received a flu shot, Caucasians were more likely than African American or Hispanic participants to state they would definitely not get vaccinated in the coming year. Ninety-five percent (95%) of Caucasian seniors knew the flu shot is recommended for people over age 65, compared to 92% of Hispanics and 88% of African Americans. All race groups were equally likely to report that a health provider had recommended influenza vaccination (55%), and there were no significant differences by race in the percent of participants who stated they would be vaccinated if a health provider recommended it. However, African American and Hispanic seniors remained less likely to be vaccinated than Caucasians even among those whose provider recommended vaccination. African Americans were also more likely to believe they had gotten sick from prior influenza vaccination (28%) than Caucasian (14%) or Hispanic (20%) participants.

CONCLUSION:
Racial/ethnic differences in understanding the benefits of influenza vaccination seem to be greater than racial/ethnic differences in provider recommendation for the vaccine.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Participants will be able to discuss racial/ethnic differences in vaccination status among Medicare seniors by immunization knowledge and attitudes.