Vaccinations
against influenza and pneumococcal disease are recommended for older
Americans, who are at increased risk for complications from these
diseases compared with younger individuals.
Influenza vaccinations are given annually, and pneumococcal vaccinations
are usually given once in a lifetime. The costs associated with these
vaccinations are covered under Medicare Part B.
In
2002, 66 percent of people age 65 and over reported receiving a flu
shot in the past 12 months. Influenza vaccination rates have
increased for all groups in the past decade, but there are still
differences by race and ethnicity. Sixty-nine percent of
non-Hispanic whites reported receiving a flu shot compared with 50
percent of non-Hispanic blacks and 49 percent of Hispanics.
In 2002, 56 percent of people age 65 and
over had ever received a pneumonia vaccination. Despite recent
increases in the rates for all groups, non-Hispanic whites are more
likely to have received a pneumonia vaccination (60 percent)
compared with non-Hispanic blacks (37 percent) or Hispanics (27
percent).
Older people are more likely to have been
vaccinated than younger people. In 2002, 61 percent of people age
65-74 had received a flu shot in the preceding 12 months compared
with 70 percent of people age 85 and over. Fifty percent of people
age 65-74 have ever received a pneumonia vaccination compared with
63 percent of people age 85 and over.
