Change in Recommendation Affects Influenza Vaccinations Among Children 6 to 59 Months of Age
- 1 October 2004
- journal article
- Published by American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in PEDIATRICS
- Vol. 114 (4), 948-952
- https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2003-0509-f
Abstract
Objective. To evaluate the impact of the 2002–2003 recommendation to “encourage when feasible” the influenza vaccine for healthy children 6 to 23 months of age. Methods. A cross-sectional study of children who were 6 to 59 months of age and presented to a large, pediatric resident's continuity clinic or the affiliated acute care clinic in the summers of 2002 and 2003 was performed. The influenza vaccination status of children in the winter before enrollment and factors that influenced this status were determined by parental questionnaire. Results. Of 245 and 329 children in the 2002 and 2003 study populations, influenza vaccinations increased from 7% to 18%, respectively. For healthy children 6 to 23 months of age, influenza vaccinations increased from 1% in 2002 to 17% in 2003 and accounted for most of the increase seen in the study population. Multivariate analysis revealed that the strongest predictor of pediatric influenza vaccination was parental recall of a physician recommendation (odds ratio: 39.3; 95% confidence interval: 17.3-89.4 in 2003). However, 65% of parents of high-risk children did not recall a physician recommendation despite the fact that the influenza vaccine was recommended for high-risk patients during both study years. Conclusion. Concomitant with the 2002-2003 influenza vaccine recommendation for healthy children 6 to 23 months of age, influenza vaccinations for these children increased significantly. Because most children for whom the influenza vaccine was recommended were not vaccinated, physicians have the opportunity to increase the pediatric influenza vaccination rate by improving their recommendation strategies.Keywords
This publication has 21 references indexed in Scilit:
- Influenza vaccination in children with asthma in Health Maintenance OrganizationsVaccine, 2000
- Recommendations regarding interventions to improve vaccination coverage in children, adolescents, and adultsAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2000
- Influenza and the Rates of Hospitalization for Respiratory Disease among Infants and Young ChildrenThe New England Journal of Medicine, 2000
- The Effect of Influenza on Hospitalizations, Outpatient Visits, and Courses of Antibiotics in ChildrenThe New England Journal of Medicine, 2000
- Routine and Influenza Vaccination Rates in Children with AsthmaAnnals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 1998
- Factors associated with influenza and pneumococcal vaccination behavior among high-risk adultsJournal of General Internal Medicine, 1996
- Emerging Infections: Pandemic InfluenzaEpidemiologic Reviews, 1996
- Influenza vaccination. Knowledge, attitudes, and behavior among high-risk outpatientsArchives of Internal Medicine, 1992
- Interpandemic Influenza in the Houston Area, 1974–76The New England Journal of Medicine, 1978
- Influenza a Infections in Young ChildrenThe New England Journal of Medicine, 1977