Influenza, more commonly know as the flu, is more than just a bad cold. It is a serious illness with a fever, cough, sore throat and body aches.  The flu causes about 20,000 deaths each year with elderly and chronically ill people at the greatest risk.  The flu can sometimes lead to pneumonia.  Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be the result of the flu.  Pneumonia which can also cause an infection of the blood and the lining of the brain is common with approximately 2-3 million cases reported each year in the United States. 

Although the flu typically does not show up in this region until November, the first confirmed case was announced at the end of September 2005.   Flu shots are recommended to older adults, persons with a chronic health problem and children 6 to 23 months of age to help prevent the contraction of influenza each winter season.  Flu mist is a recommended alternative for persons 5-49 years of age. It is estimated that the flu shot can prevent thousands of deaths each year.  In contrast, pneumonia shots are usually given only once during an individual’s lifetime but are often given with the flu shot.  Adults with multiple health problems, heart disease, diabetes, respiratory complications such as asthma or emphysema, and those over age 65, may especially consider obtaining flu and pneumonia shots. Nationally, however, only about one out of six older adults receive these vaccinations.  To help find a flu shot clinic go to:  http://flucliniclocator.org/

The following article examines flu and pneumonia vaccination rates among older adults and children in Southeastern Pennsylvania (SEPA) using data from PHMC’s 2004 SEPA Household Health Survey.
 
In SEPA, nearly seven out of ten (68%) older adults 60 years of age and older received a flu shot in the past year; this percentage represents 473,500 older adults who received this important vaccination.  However, nearly three out of ten older adults have not received a flu shot in the past year and 21.2% have never received a flu shot.   In past surveys, the most frequently cited reasons given for not receiving the flu shot in the past year include: not thinking the shot was needed (36.1%), allergic to it (15.7%), don’t believe in it (11.5%), and a fear of the shot (8.2%).  Certain population groups are more likely to receive flu vaccinations including whites, Latinos and older adults 75 years of age and over.

Flu Shots Among Older Adults

·  Older adults 75 years of age and older are more likely to have received a flu shot in the past year compared to younger adults ages 60-74; nearly eight out of ten (78.2%) adults ages 75 and over received a flu shot in the past year compared to 61.4% of adults 60-74. 
·  White older adults (70.1%) are more likely than black (60.5%), Latino (48.1%) or Asian (68.8%) older adults to have had a flu shot in the past year.  (See Figure 1)
·  Approximately six out of ten (61.2%) poor older adults received a flu shot in the past year compared to 68.3% of non-poor older adults.   
·  Men were slightly more likely to have received a flu shot in the past year compared to women (69.5% versus 66.8%, respectively).
·  Older adults in fair/poor health were equally as likely to receive a flu shot in the past year compared to those in excellent/good health (67.2% versus 68.3%, respectively).
·  Not surprisingly, older adults with a chronic health condition were more likely to receive a flu shot in the past year than those without a chronic health problem (73.7% verses 64.2%, respectively). 
Flu Shots or Flu Mist Among Children
·  Approximately one out of three (31.8%) children 17 years of age or younger received a flu shot or flu mist in the past year; this percentage represents 289,800 children in the region.
·  Less than one-half (43.1%) of children 6-23 months of age received a flu shot in the past years followed by 33.5% for children 3-6 years of age and 28.4% for children 7-17.
·  Black children (41.5%) were more likely to receive a flu shot or flu mist compared to children of other races:  Latino (40.2%), Asian (34.5%), and White (26.2%) children.  (See Figure 2)
·  Male and female children were equally likely to receive a flu shot or flu mist in the past year.
·  Poor children (39.6%) were more likely than non-poor (30.6%) children to receive a flu shot or flu mist.
·  Children with a chronic health condition (46.2%) were more likely to receive a flu shot or flu mist compared to children without a chronic health condition (29.4%).

Pneumonia Vaccination

Despite the fact that the flu sometimes develops into pneumonia, particularly among those individuals who are older and have chronic health problems, the data show that many older adults in the region have not had a pneumonia vaccination; 49.1% older adults, representing 334,100 individuals, have never had a pneumonia vaccination. 

·  Younger older adults ages 60-74 are less likely to have had a pneumonia vaccination (41.7%) compared to older adults age 75 and older (65.2%).
·  White older adults (53.6%) are more likely than black (41.6%), Latino (31.3%) and Asian (36.3%) older adults to have ever had a vaccination for pneumonia. 
·  The poor are less likely to have ever had a pneumonia vaccination compared to the non-poor (43.6% versus 51.3%, respectively).
·  Men are less likely to ever have had a pneumonia vaccination compared to women (48.3% versus 52.7%, respectively).
·  Older adults with a chronic health condition are more likely to have had a pneumonia vaccination (58.3%) compared to those without a chronic problem (46%). 

The data show that many older adults in the region need to be educated about the importance of receiving flu and pneumonia vaccinations.  Educational campaigns should focus on the myths about adverse reactions to the shots and the importance of the vaccinations in saving lives. After October 24, 2005, all persons in this region will be eligible for vaccination as along as adequate supplies of flu vaccine are available.  However, vaccination with the live, nasal spray flu vaccine is always an option for healthy persons aged 5-49 years of age who are not pregnant. This vaccination is not subject to prioritization and can be given to healthy 5-49 year olds at any time. For more information about flu and pneumonia vaccinations in the region, please contact Francine Axler at Francine@phmc.org or visit these website:

http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0103/flushots.htm
http://cms.hhs.gov/media/press/release
http://www.biomed.lib.umn.edu/hmed/20030403_flu.html
http://www.pslgroup.com

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/

http://flucliniclocator.org/