Influenza Vaccination Behavior and Beliefs among High Risk and Non-High Risk Adults Aged 50-64 Years

Background:
Influenza vaccination has been recommended for all adults aged 50-64 years since 2000, but there has been an even longer standing recommendation to receive influenza vaccination among those in this age group with high risk medical conditions.

Objectives:
This study of the 2006-07 influenza season examines vaccination behavior and beliefs regarding influenza vaccination.

Methods:
A national sample of 2,082 non-institutionalized adults aged 50-64 years was surveyed by telephone during May through August 2007.

Results:
Influenza vaccination coverage for the 2006-07 season was 60% among high risk respondents and 35% among non-high risk respondents. A greater percentage of the high risk respondents rated the influenza vaccine as very effective at preventing influenza compared to non-high risk respondents (46.1% versus 29.6%). More high risk respondents than non-high risk respondents believed that their chance of getting sick with influenza was very high if they did not get an influenza vaccination (20.0% versus 7.7%). Overall, 43.9% respondents believed a person can get influenza from the influenza vaccine and 23.6% were very worried or somewhat worried about getting sick from the influenza vaccine. Among the unvaccinated respondents, more high risk respondents reported that their doctor recommended they receive an influenza vaccination compared to non-high risk respondents (68% versus 35%).

Conclusions:
Vaccination coverage remains low among adults aged 50-64 both with and without high risk conditions that would dispose them to more serious complications if they develop influenza disease. Previous studies have shown that provider recommendation is an important factor in a patient's decision to receive influenza vaccination; providers should be encouraged to recommend influenza vaccination to all of their patients aged 50 and over. The results show that campaigns to educate adults about the effectiveness and safety of the influenza vaccine and to dispel myths about the vaccine may also help increase influenza vaccination levels.