Predictors of flu vaccination among urban Hispanic children and adults

Abstract

Background Flu vaccination is effective for preventing infection, but coverage levels in the USA remain low—especially among racial/ethnic minorities. This study examines factors associated with flu vaccination in a predominantly Hispanic community in Manhattan, New York. Methods Households were recruited during the 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 flu seasons. Primary household respondents were interviewed to determine knowledge of flu transmission/treatment and vaccination status and demographic information for all household members. Results Vaccination coverage was 47.3% among children <5, 39.3% among 5–17-year-olds, 15.3% among 18–49-year-olds, 31.0% among 50–64-year-olds and 37.1% among adults ≥65 in year 1; and 53.1% among children <5, 43.6% among 5–17-year-olds, 19.5% among 18–49-year-olds, 34.1% among 50–64-year-olds and 34.3% among adults ≥65 in year 2. For children, younger age, having a chronic respiratory condition (eg, asthma), and greater primary respondent knowledge of flu were positively associated with vaccination. Among adults, female gender, older age, higher education, greater primary respondent knowledge of flu, having been born in the USA and having a chronic respiratory condition were positively associated with vaccination. The most common reasons cited for not being vaccinated were the beliefs that flu vaccination was unnecessary or ineffective. Conclusions Possible methods for increasing vaccination levels in urban Hispanic communities include improving health literacy, making low-cost vaccination available and encouraging providers to use other office visits as opportunities to mention vaccination to patients. Registration number This study is registered at http://ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00448981).

Factors Impacting Influenza Vaccination of Urban Low-Income Latino Children Under Nine Years Requiring Two Doses in the 2010–2011 Season

“…Instead, caregiver perceptions about vaccine effectiveness and vaccine safety, consistent with previous studies including Latino populations (9, 21–23), played a more prominent role in their influenza vaccination decision. These findings indicate that provider recommendation alone may be insufficient, as suggested recently for the HPV vaccine (24).…”

“…The survey instrument was designed based upon expert opinion and prior studies (8, 9). It contained 11 open-ended and 26 closed-ended items with pre-coded responses addressing 1) general attitudes about preventive care and vaccination (e.g., “In general, how important do you think it is for [your child] to be vaccinated?…”

Utilizing health information technology to improve vaccine communication and coverage

“…For example, families with low health literacy have been shown to have distinct vaccine education needs. [34][35][36][37][38] Meeting the needs of this group is particularly important since 90 million Americans have low health literacy 39 with minority and low-income populations at greatest risk. 40 Vaccine interventions in this group ideally should avoid or simplify written materials, two objectives facilitated through the use of health information technology.…”

Using text messages to improve patient–doctor communication among racial and ethnic minority adults: An innovative solution to increase influenza vaccinations

“…In addition to not knowing whether or not they should seek influenza vaccinations, some patients, regardless of race, do not know when to be vaccinated, assume healthy people do not need to be vaccinated, are concerned about potential side-effects of the vaccination, or experience other barriers to vaccination (Johnson et al, 2008). Multiple studies have found that Hispanic patients perceive access and cost as barriers to influenza vaccination (Chen et al, 2007; Cohen et al, 2012). Other studies have found that Black and Hispanic patients are more likely than White patients to perceive the influenza vaccination as being ineffective (Wooten et al, 2012) and to think they can get influenza from receiving the vaccine (Chen et al, 2007; Wooten et al, 2012).…”