Background: This study presents current patterns of influenza vaccination among adults in the United States according to selected demographic factors, chronic diseases, and pregnancy status.
Material/methods: Analyses are based on cross-sectional survey data from the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 2005, 2006, and 2007.
Results: The percentage vaccinated with the flu shot significantly increased over the three study years (26%, 32%, and 37%, respectively). The percentage vaccinated using the flu spray remained near one. Levels of influenza vaccination significantly differed among racial/ethnic groups. Among men, the percentage vaccinated with the flu shot was 32% for whites, 27% for blacks, and 21% for Hispanics. Corresponding percentages for women were 37, 26, and 22. Flu vaccination also significantly increased with age, education, income, healthcare coverage, and presence of chronic disease. A higher percentage of pregnant women in the age range 18-44 were vaccinated than non-pregnant women (24% vs. 20% with the flu shot; 0.7% vs. 1.0% with the flu spray).
Conclusions: Influenza vaccination levels among adults remain lower than the Healthy People 2010 influenza vaccination objectives.