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Influenza Vaccine Uptake and Missed Opportunities Among the Medicare-Covered Population With High-Risk Conditions During the 2018 to 2019 Influenza Season
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1 2022
Source: Ann Intern Med. 175(1):1-10 -
Alternative Title:Ann Intern Med
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Personal Author:
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Description:Background:
Seasonal influenza causes substantial morbidity and mortality among older U.S. adults and those with comorbid health conditions.
Objective:
To describe seasonal influenza vaccine uptake and identify factors associated with missed opportunities for influenza vaccination.
Design:
Retrospective cohort study.
Setting:
Medicare fee-for-service claims.
Participants:
31.6 million U.S. adults continuously enrolled under Medicare Parts A and B during the 2018 to 2019 influenza season.
Measurements:
Influenza vaccine uptake and missed opportunities by patient demographic characteristics, high-risk status (that is, ≥1 condition increasing influenza complication risk), Medicare–Medicaid dual-eligibility status, and health care provider visits (that is, vaccination opportunities).
Results:
Overall, 50.5% of beneficiaries aged 19 years or older had Medicare claims for influenza vaccination: 31.6% among people aged 19 to 64 years and 54% among people aged 65 years or older. More White beneficiaries were vaccinated (52.9%) than Black (34.9%) or Hispanic (30.4%) beneficiaries. Uptake was higher (56.1%) for beneficiaries with high-risk conditions than for those without (27.6%). Among unvaccinated beneficiaries overall, 77.4% visited a provider during influenza season; among unvaccinated beneficiaries with and without high-risk conditions, 91% and 43%, respectively, had seen a provider at least once. The proportion of beneficiaries with missed opportunities for influenza vaccination was 44.2% and was higher for beneficiaries in the non–high-risk group (59.1%) than those in the high-risk group (42.2%). Uptake was lower and proportions of missed opportunities were higher among beneficiaries in younger age groups, of Black and Hispanic race/ethnicity, without high-risk conditions, or with Medicare-Medicaid dual eligibility.
Limitations:
Influenza vaccinations without claims could not be captured. Data on reasons for nonvaccination were unavailable.
Conclusion:
Influenza vaccination coverage for Medicare beneficiaries continues to be suboptimal, with missed opportunities despite availability of influenza vaccination with no copayment. Disparities persist in vaccination uptake by race/ethnicity.
Primary Funding Source:
None.
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Subjects:
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Source:
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Pubmed ID:34781717
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Pubmed Central ID:PMC9109634
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Document Type:
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Collection(s):
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Main Document Checksum:
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File Type:
[PDF-302.44 KB]
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