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Is Vaccination Coverage Among US Adults Low?

MMWR; 2017 May 5; Williams, Lu, et al

Publish date:

Coverage for vaccine-preventable diseases remained low among US adults in 2015, but modest gains occurred in vaccination coverage for influenza, pneumococcal, Tdap, herpes zoster, and hepatitis B (HBV) in certain age groups, a recent study found. Data from the 2014 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) was compared with 2015 data, specifically from August 2014 to June 2015 (for influenza vaccination) and January to December 2015 (for pneumococcal, tetanus and diphtheria and tetanus and diphtheria with acellular pertussis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, herpes zoster, and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination). Researchers found:

  • Increases in vaccination coverage occurred for:
    • Influenza vaccine among adults aged ≥19 years (now 45%).
    • Pneumococcal vaccine among adults aged 19 to 64 years at increased risk for pneumococcal disease (now 23%).
    • Tdap vaccine among adults aged ≥19 years (23%) and aged 19 to 64 years (25%).
    • Herpes zoster vaccine among adults aged ≥60 years (31%) and adults aged ≥65 years (34%).
    • Hepatitis B vaccine among health care personnel aged ≥19 years (65%).
  • Coverage for other vaccines and groups with vaccination indications did not improve.
  • Racial/ethnic disparities persisted for routinely recommended adult vaccines.

Citation:

Williams WW, Lu P, O’Halloran A, et al. Surveillance of vaccination coverage among adult populations—United States, 2015. MMWR Surveill Summ.2017;66(No. SS-11):1–28. doi:10.15585/mmwr.ss6611a1.

Commentary:

Coverage for vaccine-preventable disease is surprisingly low among adults for whom the vaccines are recommended. Unlike in pediatrics, where vaccination is considered a core aspect of care, vaccination in adults is not treated with the same degree of importance. This is unfortunate, as vaccines are an important part of adult preventive health care. ACIP recommends: all health care providers, including those who do not stock vaccines, 1) assess the vaccination status of patients at every clinical encounter; 2) recommend needed vaccines for patients; 3) offer recommended vaccines or, for providers who do not stock a needed vaccine, refer patients to a vaccine provider; and 4) document vaccines administered, including in immunization information systems when available for use among adult patients. —Neil Skolnik, MD

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