Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of the presentation participants will be able to identify the prevalence of and differences in patterns of factors related to underutilization of influenza vaccination between blacks, whites, and Hispanics.

Background:
Each year, influenza causes approximately 114,000 hospitalizations and 34,000 deaths predominately among persons over 65. Annual vaccination rates were 65.4% in 2003 among this age group. Coverage is disparate between non-Hispanic blacks, non-Hispanic whites, and Hispanics.

Objectives:
To estimate the prevalence of factors associated with influenza vaccine uptake among African-American, white, and Hispanic adults at least 50 years old.

Methods:
This was a cross-sectional survey of 100 persons in each racial/ethnic group interviewed in each of three community-based grocery stores using a venue-based sampling technique. Questionnaire items covered factors associated with underutilization of flu vaccine. Stratified analyses were performed with prevalence ratios, 95% confidence intervals, and logistic regression.

Results:
Lack of intention to be vaccinated during the 2004 flu season varied across racial/ethnic groups (26.8% whites, 37.2% Hispanics, 40.6% in blacks). Among those who did not intend to get a flu shot, there is a higher prevalence of confusion regarding the action and effectiveness of the vaccine. Previous experiences or perception that vaccination causes the flu is associated with a higher prevalence of no intention to be vaccinated depending on race. Feeling at risk from influenza has mixed associations with respect to intention to get a flu shot in 2004 but was very strong among blacks. Indicators of negative attitudes towards influenza vaccination are also associated with lack of intention to be immunized among all groups.

Conclusions:
The patterns of factors associated with influenza vaccine acceptance identified for blacks, whites, and Hispanics contain many similarities but also key differences. Targeted messages should be developed for these differences to improve overall annual influenza vaccination rates and reduce racial/ethnic disparities.