Medicare Coverage
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Influenza and Pneumococcal Immunization Rates among Medicare Beneficiaries
Research Report
Lynda Flowers, AARP Public Policy Institute
June 2007
Immunization for the vaccine-preventable diseases, influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia, is covered by Medicare, but immunization rates among beneficiaries are less than optimal, with even lower rates among African Americans and Hispanics. This 2007 AARP Issue Brief discusses adult immunization recommendations and current Medicare immunization coverage policies. It considers factors contributing to immunization disparities and presents relevant data. The Brief also reviews federal and state strategies to promote influenza and pneumococcal immunization and to reduce disparities in immunization rates among vulnerable populations.
Highlights include:
- Influenza epidemics are responsible for approximately 36,000 deaths and more than 200,000 hospitalizations each year in the U.S. More than 90 percent of these deaths occur among those age 65 and older.
- Pneumococcal pneumonia affects about 33,000 persons a year, resulting in 5,000 deaths, most of which occur among those age 65 and older.
- In 2004, 67 percent of age 65+ white adults reported receiving the influenza vaccine. During the same period, 45 percent of older African Americans and 55 percent of older Hispanics reported having received a flu shot.
- In 2004, only 39 percent of African Americans and 34 percent of Hispanics reported receiving the pneumonia vaccine, compared to 61 percent of their white counterparts.
(6 pages)
Pub ID: IB83