The prevalence and correlates of influenza vaccination among a home care population

Objective: To estimate the prevalence and correlates of influenza vaccinati on in a Home Care population Methods: This was a cross-sectional investigation involving linkage of thre e population-based databases from a rural Alberta Regional Health Authority , i.e., Regional immunization and the Regional home oxygen information syst ems to the Regional home L-care information system The sample comprised 649 persons who had been admitted or discharged from the Regional Home Care Pr ogram in che period Oct. 1-Dec. 31, 1998. An anonymous data file was releas ed to the investigators. We estimated the proportion ever vaccinated agains t influenza, the proportion vaccinated in the period Oct. 1-Dec. 31, 1998 ( "currently vaccinated"); and explored sociodemographic and program correlat es of current vaccination Results: 67% had ever been vaccinated against influenza; 60.7% were current ly vaccinated. Factors 1 associated with current Vaccination (multivariate analysis) include older age, being married, not receiving nursing services, district of residence and program Conclusions: Influenza vaccination rates were sub primal. The correlates of vaccination suggest systems-level impediments to influenza vaccination.