Influenza Vaccine Coverage and Missed Opportunities Among Inner-city Children Aged 6 to 23 Months: 2000-2005

• Published in: Pediatrics (Evanston) 2007-03, Vol.119 (3), p.e580-e586
• Main Authors: Verani, Jennifer R, Irigoyen, Matilde, Chen, Shaofu, Chimkin, Frank
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Distribution; Children & youth; Cohort Studies; Female; Health Care Surveys; Humans; Immunization; Infant; Influenza; Influenza Vaccines; Influenza, Human - prevention & control; Inner city; Insurance, Health - statistics & numerical data; Male; Mass Vaccination - statistics & numerical data; New York City; Pediatrics; Quality of Health Care - statistics & numerical data; Retrospective Studies; Sex Distribution; Urban Population - statistics & numerical data; Vaccines
• ISSN: 0031-4005; 1098-4275
• DOI: 10.1542/peds.2006-1580

In 2002, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended universal influenza vaccination of 6- to 23-month-olds. Little is known about coverage and missed opportunities for influenza vaccination at inner-city practices. The objective of this study was to assess the 2000-2001 to 2004-2005 coverage and the prevalence of missed opportunities for influenza vaccination among inner-city children. We conducted a retrospective review for the 2000-2001 to 2004-2005 influenza seasons at a practice network in New York City. The study population included 5 annual cohorts of 6- to 29-month olds as of March 31 of each year with > or = 1 visit to the network in the previous 12 months (n = 7063). Immunization data were obtained from the network registry and the New York Citywide Immunization Registry. Coverage levels were estimated for 1 dose (partial) and 2 doses (full). Missed opportunities were assessed for visits within each influenza season. Coverage rose steadily throughout the 5 years (full: 1.6% to 23.7%; partial: 1.5% to 18.1%). The relationship between year and coverage was linear. Missed opportunities occurred in 82% of visits and were more common for first (89%) than for repeat doses (38%). Missed opportunities per child per season decreased from 2.9 to 2.0 during the study period. Influenza vaccine coverage among 6- to 23-month-olds at inner-city practices increased steadily from 2000-2001 through 2004-2005, and the prevalence of missed opportunities per child decreased. However, coverage remained suboptimal, with most of children not vaccinated or undervaccinated. Missed opportunities were major contributors to low coverage.