INFLUENZA VACCINE USE AMONG AN ELDERLY POPULATION IN A COMMUNITY INTERVENTION

A community intervention program was carried out to promote influenza immunization among an elderly population, as part of a demonstration e stablished to estimate the value of including influenza immunization a s a Medicare-covered benefit. Potential recipients were informed of re asons for receiving vaccine and its availability at no cost, and physi cians and others administering it were provided with educational mater ials and cost reimbursement. Data collected for annual evaluations of influenza vaccine effectiveness were used to evaluate the impact of th e community intervention program on influenza immunization status and to determine the effects of age, gender, chronic health conditions, an d smoking status on the likelihood of immunization. Results indicated that the intervention program had a statistically significant impact o n increasing the likelihood of immunization among the elderly populati on living in the targeted area. The existence of certain chronic healt h conditions also predicted immunization, while the effect of current smoking on immunization was strongly negative. During the three years of vaccine promotion, use in those 65 years and older who resided in t he intervention area increased from approximately 40% in 1989-1990 to over 56% in 1991-1992. With various incentives, including cost reimbur sement through Medicare, influenza immunization can be markedly increa sed among elderly beneficiaries.