Immunization - Pneumonia Vaccination, Adults Age 65+
Summary Indicator Report Data View Options
Percentage Who Have Ever Had a Pneumonia Vaccination by County, Adults Age 65+, New Mexico, 2013-2017
Percentage Who Have Ever Had a Pneumonia Vaccination: Adults Age 65+, by U.S. States, 2016
Why Is This Important?
Recommended immunizations for adults aged 65 years and older include a yearly immunization against influenza (flu) and a one-time immunization against pneumococcal disease. Most of the deaths and serious illnesses caused by influenza and pneumococcal disease occur in older adults and others at increased risk for complications of these diseases because of other risk factors or medical conditions. Barriers to adult immunization include not knowing immunizations are needed, misconceptions about vaccines, and lack of recommendations from health care providers.
Definition
The estimated percentage of New Mexico adults age 65 and older who have ever had a pneumonia immunization as reported by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Question wording: Have you ever had a pneumonia shot? A pneumonia shot or pneumococcal vaccine is usually given only once or twice in a persons lifetime and is different from the flu shot. Have you ever had a pneumonia shot? U.S. is median value for 50 U.S. states and D.C.
Data Sources
- Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Data, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, together with New Mexico Department of Health, Injury and Behavioral Epidemiology Bureau.
(https://www.nmhealth.org/about/erd/ibeb/brfss/) - U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), accessed through AdultVaxView Interactive
(https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-managers/coverage/adultvaxview/)
How the Measure is Calculated
| Numerator: | The number of survey respondents age 65 and older who have ever had a pneumonia immunization . Data were weighted to adjust for effects of sample design and to represent the population distribution of adults by sex, age group, and area of residence. |
| Denominator: | The total number of survey respondents age 65 and older, excluding missing, "Don't Know" and "Refused" responses. |
How Are We Doing?
In New Mexico, only two out of three Hispanics age 65 or older has ever received a pneumococcal immunization.
Evidence-based Practices
Immunizations are one of the most effective public health tools for preventing and eradicating disease; yet adult immunizations have not reached the coverage levels of childhood immunizations, particularly among members of minority groups. The low rates of immunization among adults is the result of many factors including: lack of access to preventive health services; the belief that adult immunizations are not necessary; and/or they lack basic knowledge about the high risks of disease and death linked to pneumonia/influenza in the elderly.