Influenza Vaccination in the Elderly

This study analyzed influenza vaccination in a group of elderly veterans living in a Florida VA nursing home care unit (NHCU). A survey questionnaire, developed to assess veterans' vaccination status, attitude and perception, was presented orally by a technician in the form of an interview and the responses were annotated in appropriate areas of the questionnaire. Only 34% of the 202 veterans had been vaccinated within the last 12 months (compliant group), although the study subjects were in a high-risk group, i.e., 65 years of age or older, an average length of stay at the NHCU of 12 months and > 70% suffered from chronic disease(s) with a past history of smoking. Thus, the veterans not vaccinated outnumbered those who were by 2:1. Vaccine acceptance was significantly influenced by physician's advice and the subject's knowledge and fear about the vaccine. Veterans advised to take the vaccine yearly, within the last 5 years and more than 5 years ago had vaccination rates of 96.4, 57.8 and 17.6%, respectively. Veterans never instructed had an immunization rate of 0%. Over half of the veterans (50.7%) had regular contact with a physician. Therefore, more frequent physician reminders to vaccinate could enhance the yearly vaccine coverage rate. Subjects who received the vaccine previously but failed to do so on a yearly basis acted out of fear of side effects and shots (most frequent reason given; 34.3% of all reasons), misconceptions about the vaccine recommendation (27.6%), as well as lack of motivation (19.5%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)