Public health and aging: influenza vaccination coverage among adults aged > or =50 years and pneumococcal vaccination coverage among adults aged > or =65 years--United States, 2002.

Vaccination of persons at risk for complications from influenza and pneumococcal disease is a key public health strategy in preventing morbidity and mortality in the United States. During the 1990-1999 influenza seasons, approximately 36,000 deaths were attributed annually to influenza infection, with approximately 90% of deaths occurring among adults aged > or =65 years. In 1998, an estimated 3,400 adults aged > or =65 years died as a result of invasive pneumococcal disease. One of the national health objectives for 2010 is to achieve 90% coverage of noninstitutionalized adults aged > or =65 years for both influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations (objective no. 14.29). In 2000, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) broadened the universal recommendations for influenza vaccination to include adults aged 50-64 years in addition to adults aged > or =65 years. To assess progress toward achieving the 2010 national health objective and implementing the ACIP recommendations, CDC analyzed data from the 2002 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicate that influenza and pneumococcal vaccination levels among adults aged > or =65 years and influenza vaccination levels among adults aged 50-64 years varied widely among states/areas and racial/ethnic populations. Innovative approaches are needed to increase vaccination coverage, particularly among certain populations.