INFLUENZA AND TETANUS IMMUNIZATION

PURPOSE To discover what proportion of adults residing within the boun daries of a rural health district were up-to-date with influenza and t etanus vaccinations. METHODS A directory-seeded, random digit dial tel ephone survey of health knowledge, attitudes, and practices was conduc ted in summer 1993. Eligible subjects were aged 16 or older, lived wit hin health district boundaries, and spoke English. RESULTS Just over h alf (57.5%) of people aged 65 and older had received influenza vaccine in the previous 12 months, and 55.4% of people 16 years and older had received tetanus vaccine in the last 10 years (93% of people aged 16 to 24 were covered, but only 20.5% of people aged 65 or older). Most ( 89.8%) of those 65 and older knew that influenza vaccine was recommend ed for people their age. Only 59% of respondents knew that influenza v accine was recommended for people with chronic health conditions, rega rdless of age. CONCLUSION Among adults, coverage with influenza and te tanus vaccines varies with age, but is generally unsatisfactory. Rates in this rural area of Alberta were similar to Canadian rates for teta nus vaccine coverage but higher for influenza vaccine coverage.