Publications
| Pneumococcal and Influenza Vaccination Rates In Adult Residents Of Metropolitan Toronto And Peel Region, Ontario. |
Authors: M. McArthur, K. Green, P. Avarino, A. McGeer.
Background: Influenza and pneumococcal vaccines are important means of preventing both community-acquired and nosocomial respiratory tract infection. In Ontario, both vaccines are recommended and provided free of charge to all those 65 years of age and older, and adults younger than 65 years of age with chronic illnesses. From 1996 to 1998, the Ontario government mounted a campaign intended to make pneumococcal vaccine available to all eligible residents of Ontario, and to vaccine 70% of the eligible population. We undertook a survey to determine the uptake of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines in Ontario adults in 1999/2000, and to identify barriers to their use.
Method: A randomly-ordered residential telephone list for Metropolitan Toronto/Peel Region was obtained from Tele-Direct. Residences were contacted sequentially, with six attempts made to reach each number. Respondents were screened to identify household members who were eligible for pneumococcal vaccine, and one member per household was randomly selected for interview. Respondents were asked whether they had received influenza and pneumococcal vaccines, and reasons for not being vaccinated explored.
Results: To date, 170 residents have been interviewed: 58 who are <65 years of age and have medical conditions which make them eligible for pneumococcal vaccine, 63 who are >64 years of age without underlying illness, and 49 who are >64 years of age and have qualifying medical conditions. Of these groups 47% (27/58), 57% (36/63) and 65% (32/49) reported receiving influenza vaccine in the previous year; however, only 16% (9/58), 33% (21/63) and 31% (15/49) reported having ever received pneumococcal vaccine. The most common reported reasons for not getting influenza vaccine were: person feeling they were not at risk of getting influenza (35%), not knowing influenza vaccine was recommended for them (28%), not having been offered vaccine by their physician (26%), and concern about side effects (20%). Only 7% of those interviewed reported not knowing about influenza vaccine. In contrast, 53% of interviewees who had not received pneumococcal vaccine did not know about its existence, 47% reported not realizing that vaccine was recommended for them, 42% that their physicians did not offer it, and 19% that their physicians said they did not need it. Most interviewees (89%) who had not been vaccinated reported having a regular family doctor whom they had seen in the previous year.
Conclusions: Influenza and pneumococcal vaccine uptake remains well below recommended standards, and many at risk adults still are not aware of the pneumococcal vaccine. Nearly all at risk adults see their family doctors regularly; however, physician attitudes and behaviour will need to be modified if vaccine uptake is to be improved.
Presented At:
Community and Hospital Infection Control Assocation - Canada Conference, Toronto, Ontario, 5/29/2000.
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1999 Microbiology Department, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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