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30 J.L. Med. & Ethics 128 (2002)
Immunization for Seniors

handle is hein.journals/medeth30 and id is 486 raw text is: Immunization for Seniors Dale W Bratzler, B. F Chris Christiaens, Katherine Hempstead, Kristin L. Nichol ABSTRACT Vaccine-preventable diseases remain a significant health problem for adults in the United States. Far more adults die from the complications of vaccine-preventable diseases than do children in this country. Available vaccines that are effective in preventing morbidity and mortality from these conditions are underutilized, and significant racial and ethnic disparities in rates of utilization of adult vaccines persist. A variety of important vaccine- preventable diseases affect seniors. However, influenza and pneumococcal infections stand out as being responsible for more cases and more deaths each year among seniors than all other vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States combined. Current vaccination rates for these two diseases are far short of the Healthy People 2010 target rates of 90% immunization of the population of adults aged 65 years or over. Despite state efforts to improve vaccination rates of seniors, efforts that have included regulatory and educational approaches, significant challenges remain in designing immunization programs for seniors that are universally effective. E ach year in the United States, 50,000- 90, 1000 adults die of vaccine preventable diseases. The number of adults who die of vaccine preventable disease far exceeds the number of children who die from these condi- tions.1,2 Despite the fact that cost-effective adult vaccines prevent morbidity and mortality from these conditions, these vaccines are underuti- lized. The General Accounting Office (GAO) recently reported to Congress that while the use of preventive services (including adult vaccines) offered under the Medicare Program has increased over time, use of these services varies. In addition to considerable differences in use between states, there is also marked variation in use of these services by racial and ethnic group, income, and educational level.3 As noted by the GAO, the differences in utilization of preventive services among racial and ethnic groups were greatest for immunizations. The majority of adult deaths from vaccine- preventable diseases is due to influenza and pneumococcal disease. Data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the National Health Interview Survey4 and the National Nursing Home Survey demonstrate the underutilization of vaccines for these two diseases. -Fgue .Prpotinofadlt horeeie N 50-64 years W65 years and over 100 635 1997 1998 1999 2000 Year Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Early release of selected estimates from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Data from January - June 2001. hftp://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm (accessed 6/27/02). R Q

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