BACKGROUND:
The emergency department (ED) may be a place to vaccinate elderly patients that are not vaccinated through their primary care physicians. If coverage rates are low among Medicare patients in the ED, immunization programs in the ED may be useful.

OBJECTIVE:
To explore the potential need for an immunization program in this setting.

METHOD:
As part of a study assessing the ability to vaccinate non-Medicare patients in the ED, surveys were done to assess vaccination status among those between the ages of 18 and 64 years. Although they were not included in the study, surveys were also done on Medicare eligible patients to ascertain their vaccination status in regard to influenza (IV), pneumococcal (PPV) and hepatitis B vaccines (HBV). The results of these assessments are presented here.

RESULT:
Of one hundred eighty-nine patients who were 65 years or older, 37% had already received IV, 54% had received the PPV, and 2% had received the HBV. When comparing vaccination status between males and females, 38% of males and 36% of females had received IV. Fifty-six percent of males had received PPV versus 53% of females. Three percent of males had received HBV, whereas 2% of females had received HBV.

CONCLUSION:
A large percentage of those 65 years old or older are not up to date with IV and PPV, and most have not received HBV. HBV is presumably less of an issue in the elderly population. Vaccination status was also not dependent on gender. Immunization in the ED, focusing on uninsured and Medicare patients, may be useful in improving these immunization rates.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Participants will become aware of the immunization status of Medicare patients.