Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of the presentation participants will be able to:
1. Understand the value of a personally directed information campaign towards the 65+ elderly population to improve coverage rates for vaccination


Background:
Vaccine coverage rates (VCR) for influensa and pneumococcal vaccination among the elderly population have been low in Uppsala County, Sweden.


Setting:
During October/November 2004, influensa and pneumococcal vaccination was performed at 28 primary health-care centers in Uppsala County. Vaccinées paid full price for vaccinations.


Population:
All persons aged 65 years or older in Uppsala County


Project Description:
A telephone omnibus was conducted in week 48, 2004 among 300 non-institutionalised individuals aged 65 years and older, representative of the population, to evaluate the effect on influenza and pneumoccocal vaccination uptake by persons aged 65+ after a personally directed educational campaign informing on the health benefits of the combined vaccination.


Results/Lessons Learned:
Influenza VCR in the 65+ population reached 49 percent. An additional 11 percent expressed an intention to take the vaccinations. The influenza VCR in the medical risk groups, who comprised 41 percent of the elderly population, was 59 percent with an additional 9 percent expressing an intention to be vaccinated.
The pneumoccocal VCR was 36 percent, where of 64 percent were vaccinated for the first time. An additional 8 percent expressed an intention to be vaccinated. Among medical riskgroups 48 precent was vaccinated with an additional 7 percent expressing an intention to be vaccinated. The main reasons for non-vaccination were unlikelihood to catch the flu or pneumonia, fear of side effects and unconcern. High cost was rarely mentioned as a reason for non-vaccination. 74 percent of the elderly know of the information campaign and 30 percent had become more positive towards vaccination against influenza and pneumococcal infection. Compared to last years VCR, influenza vaccination increased with 7 percent and pneumococcal vaccination with 6 percent.