Cocooning: Influenza Vaccine for Parents and Caregivers in an Urban, Pediatric Medical Home

Objective: To determine the acceptance of influenza vaccination by caregivers of children at risk for complications of influenza, if their annual vaccination could be administered by their child's pediatric caregivers during their child's office visit.

Results: During the 2008-2009 influenza season, 474 caregivers were approached, and 336 (70.9%) agreed to participate; 44 were excluded because they had already received their seasonal influenza vaccination, leaving 292 participants. Most were female (80.8%), the child's mother (68.5%), and African American (58.6%). In all, 250 of the 292 participants agreed to receive the influenza vaccine in the pediatrician's office. There were no clinically relevant demographic differences between those who received the vaccine and those who did not. The change in vaccination rate for the group of participants from the previous year was significant (23.7% to 85.6%; P < .001).

Conclusion: Caregivers of at-risk pediatric patients are accepting of influenza vaccination from pediatric practitioners while attending their child's pediatric clinic visit.