Disparity in influenza and pneumococcal vaccination coverage between non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics of various acculturation levels

Vaccination of persons at increased risk for complications from influenza and pneumococcal disease is a key public health strategy in the U.S. Healthy People 2010 called for 90% coverage among noninstitutionalized adults ≥65 years for both vaccines. However, they are underutilized especially among minority groups such as Hispanics. The objectives of the study were to 1) determine influenza and pneumococcal vaccine coverage among Hispanics by acculturation level; and 2) compare influenza and pneumococcal vaccine coverage between non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics of various acculturation levels.

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data were obtained for 2006 ¨C 2009. Dependent variables included influenza vaccination during previous year among adults 50-64 years and ≥65 years and pneumococcal vaccine, ever, among adults ≥65 years. Key independent variables included race/ethnicity and acculturation using language of survey as a proxy.

Influenza vaccination rates during the previous year among adults ≥65 years was 71.7% for non-Hispanic whites, 64.3% for English-speaking Hispanics, and 46.2% for Spanish-speaking Hispanics. Multivariate analyses also revealed that English-speaking Hispanics ≥65 years (OR=0.76, 95% CI = 0.69, 0.84) and Spanish -speaking Hispanics ≥65 years (OR=0.38, 95% CI= 0.34, 0.42) were less likely to receive an influenza vaccination during previous year as non-Hispanic whites. Similar results were seen for influenza vaccination during previous year among adults 50-64 years and pneumococcal vaccine, ever, among adults ≥65 years.

Large differences in influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates between non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics ≥65 years indicate that public health officials should specifically target Spanish-speaking Hispanics by designing culturally competent outreach efforts.