C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health

A publication from the University of Michigan Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases and the University of Michigan Child Health Evaluation and Research (CHEAR) Unit.

Vol. 3, Issue 1; January 21, 2008

Adults and Kids Less Protected Than Anticipated Against the Flu PDF

Adults and Kids Less Protected Than Anticipated Against the Flu

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Report Highlights

• Nearly one-half of parents report this was the first time their young children received the flu vaccine.
• Flu vaccination rates among young children, high-risk adults, and seniors remain below national target levels.

In October 2007 the CS Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health reported that 65% of parents of children 5 years old or younger planned to vaccinate their children against influenza during the 2007-08 flu season. We also reported that expected flu vaccination rates for high-risk adults were expected to be lower than those among children, with the exception of adults aged 65 or older.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that the flu season in the United States quickly accelerated in December 2007. In the second week of January, 19 states reported sporadic activity, 26 states reported moderate activity, and four states reported widespread influenza activity. The typical peak of influenza activity in the United States occurs in January or later, which means that flu vaccination rates in December may indicate how well protected the US population is against a major flu outbreak.

In December 2007, the CS Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health measured the proportion of children and adults who had already received flu vaccine, and those who still intended to get vaccinated against flu this season.

National Flu Vaccination Levels

For households with children up to 5 years old (ie, the age group recommended for universal flu vaccination this season), the vaccination rate was 36%, and another 18% of households planned to vaccinate their children. Almost one-half of parents said that this season was the first time they had vaccinated their young child(ren) against influenza.

Flu vaccination and planned vaccination rates among young children and adults are shown in Figure 1.

Self-reported vaccination rates for adults in states with highest levels of influenza activity by January 2008 were higher (46%) than rates in states with lower levels of activity (32%), but did not differ for children. Based on this poll, about 90 million doses of influenza vaccine had been administered by early January.

 

Implications

National efforts to prevent an influenza epidemic hinge on broad flu vaccination of the public in advance of flu activity. By December 2007, before widespread influenza began, flu vaccination rates among children were lower than expected. However, the high number of households vaccinating their young children against flu for the first time demonstrates broad acceptance of new national recommendations for flu vaccination.

Vaccine use to this point leaves about 40 million doses still available, based on pre-season CDC estimates of supply. Higher adult vaccination rates in states with greatest flu activity suggest that many adults decide to get vaccinated only when they perceive a risk of getting flu themselves. As flu activity increases nationwide, it is not too late for millions of unvaccinated high-risk individuals to get immunized.

Datasource

This report presents findings from a nationally representative household survey conducted exclusively by Knowledge Networks, Inc, for C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. This study was conducted using a method used in many published studies. The survey was administered from Dec 6 - Jan 4 2007, to a randomly selected, stratified group of adults aged 18 and older (n=2,131) with and without children from the Knowledge Networks standing panel that closely resembles the U.S. population. The sample was subsequently weighted to reflect U.S. population figures from the Census Bureau. The survey completion rate was 64% among Knowledge Networks panel members contacted to participate.

C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health

Director: Matthew M. Davis, MD, MAPP, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Internal Medicine and Public Policy
Associate Director: Sarah J. Clark, MPH
Manager & Editor: Dianne C. Singer, MPH
Data Analyst: Acham Gebremariam, MS
Contact us! Email: NPCH@med.umich.edu
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This Report includes research findings from the C.S. Mott Children's National Poll on Children's Health, which do not represent the opinions of the investigators or the opinions of the University of Michigan. The University of Michigan reserves all rights over this material.