A Multi-season National Estimate of Adult Influenza Vaccination by U.S. Office-based Pediatricians, 2006-2011

There is no national estimate of adult influenza vaccination by U.S. office-based pediatricians. De-identified patient-level data from an electronic healthcare claims database submitted to private and public insurers were analyzed for pediatric offices from the 2006-2007 through 2010-2011 seasons. An average of 321,000 (range: 225,000-434,000) influenza vaccinations per year were estimated to be administered to adults; 52%, 22%, and 26% were given to adults 19-49, 50-64, and ≥65 years of age, respectively. Consistent with the 2010 changes to national guidelines, recommending influenza vaccination of all individuals 6 months of age and older, pediatricians appear to be providing an increasing proportion of adult vaccinations against influenza to adults 19-49 years of age (probably parents of their pediatric patients).