I Need Shots Too? Coverage Rates and Perceptions of Recommended Vaccines among Adults in San Diego County

Background:
HP 2010 objectives aim to vaccinate 90% of adults 65 or over annually against influenza and with a one-time dose of pneumococcal vaccine. The objective for high-risk adults 18-64 is 60% for these vaccines. Coverage rates have remained below this mark for several years. Recently, routinely recommended vaccines for select groups of adults have expanded to include Tdap, HPV, and Zoster.

Objectives:
By the end of the presentation participants will be able to identify vaccination rates for adults in San Diego County and attitudes and beliefs regarding new vaccine recommendations.

Methods:
The 4,951 eligible participants lived within San Diego County, had a home telephone, and were 18 years or older at the time of the survey (February-June 2008). Computer assisted telephone interviews were administered using standard random digit dial (RDD) methods.

Results:
Influenza vaccination for adults age 18-64 with a high-risk condition was 47%. Those 65 or over were 72% up to date for influenza and 61% for pneumococcal. Healthcare workers 18-64 have reached the HP 2010 goal of 61% for influenza, but have not increased in the last three years. Among women age 18-26, 10% had initiated the HPV series. 11% of adults age 60 or older had received a Zoster vaccine. For adults 18-64 years 1% had ever received a Tdap vaccine. When asked what would make them more likely to receive a Tdap, 42% said if their doctor recommended it.

Conclusions:
Despite adequate influenza vaccine supply, influenza vaccination rates of San Diego county adults have not increased significantly. Knowledge and uptake of HPV and Zoster is low and even lower for Tdap. Given that many respondents in the recommended group for these vaccines do not recall being told by their healthcare provider, efforts to engage providers in promoting these vaccines continues to be an important strategy.