Immunization - Influenza Vaccination by Flu Season, Adults Age 65+, New Mexico and U.S., 2010-2011 to 2016-2017
Indicator Report Data View Options
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 with a current influenza immunization as reported by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The state-based BRFSS is an ongoing, landline and cellular telephone survey which collects information on health conditions and risk behaviors from randomly selected adults aged 18 years and older in the U.S. population. BRFSS included survey questions asking whether the respondent had received a flu vaccination in the past 12 months, and if so, in which month and year. Responses to the flu vaccination status questions were not verified by medical records. 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. See also CDC's web page https://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview/coverage-1718estimates.htm for detailed methodology notes.
Data Notes
Flu season is from August through May (example: August 2017-May 2018)Data Source
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), accessed through FluVaxView Interactive(https://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview/)
How the Measure is Calculated
| Numerator: | The number of survey respondents age 65 and older with a current influenza immunization. |
| Denominator: | The total number of survey respondents age 65 and older, excluding missing, "Don't Know" and "Refused" responses. |
Data Issues
The state-based BRFSS is an ongoing, landline and cellular telephone survey which collects information on health conditions and risk behaviors from randomly selected adults aged 18 years and older in the U.S. population. BRFSS included survey questions asking whether the respondent had received a flu vaccination in the past 12 months, and if so, in which month and year. Responses to the flu vaccination status questions were not verified by medical records. 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. See also CDC's web page https://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview/coverage-1718estimates.htm for detailed methodology notes.Health Topic Pages Related to: Immunization - Influenza Vaccination, Adults Age 65+
Community Health Resources and Links
- Healthy People 2030 Website
- The Guide to Community Preventive Services
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
- County Health Rankings
- Kaiser Family Foundation's StateHealthFacts
Medical literature can be queried at the PubMed website.