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A nationwide flu outbreak has already caused alarm across the country. Public health organizations have mobilized to spread the word about the virus and encourage everyone to get vaccinated. Many cities across the US have declared a Public Health emergency, urging residents to take flu prevention seriously, and to stay home if feeling sick.

The ramp up of the campaign to encourage vaccination made us curious about what NCI data says about the flu vaccine.  Of the ID/DD population receiving public services, who has been vaccinated in the past year? Who hasn’t? Are there trends? It is important to remember that this is 2011-2012 data, collected before the current flu outbreak. Vaccination rates may have increased recently in light of the epidemic. 

For this assessment of the data, we used preliminary data from the 2011-2012 administration of the Adult Consumer Survey (CS). The CS is given to adults (aged 18 and above) with ID/DD.

Of those who responded to the NCI question on the flu vaccine in the background section (“During the past 12 months, has this person had a flu vaccine?” N= 8385) 78.1% had received a flu vaccine in the past year. According to the CDC, among adults aged 18 and above, the national vaccination rate was 38.8%. The CDC data demonstrates whether the respondent received a flu vaccine between August 2011 and May 2012. (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/coverage_1112estimates.htm).   

Perhaps not surprising is the relationship between residence type and flu vaccine. Clearly, it is in the best interest of individuals living in group living environments to be vaccinated to prevent outbreaks of the flu.  Noteworthy, however, is the lower rate of vaccination experienced by individuals living with parents or relatives.

Also interesting is the relationship between flu vaccine and age.  Of those respondents between the ages of 18 and 49, 71.4% had been vaccinated for the flu within the past 12 months. Similarly, 86.6% of respondents between the ages of 50 and 64 had been vaccinated, and a 92.2% of respondents aged 65 and above. Also included in this table are the national data from the Center for Disease Control. Again, this data demonstrates whether the respondent received a flu vaccine between August 2011 and May 2012. For individuals aged 18-49, the flu vaccination rate for individuals with ID/DD is roughly 2.5 times that of the general population. The rate for individuals aged 50-64 with ID/DD is roughly twice that of the general population. The rate for individuals with ID/DD aged 65 and above is also noteworthy.

*(http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/coverage_1112estimates.htm ). Also, this data demonstrates whether the respondent received a flu vaccine between August 2011 and May 2012

 We’d love to hear your response to this data.

Please note: The 2011-12 data reports will be released and placed on the NCI website this Spring.  For more in depth analysis of previous year’s NCI consumer survey data, please see http://www.nationalcoreindicators.org.