Final results: Medicare influenza vaccine demonstration--selected states, 1988-1992.

Pneumonia and influenza (P&I) are the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and persons aged > or = 65 years and persons with chronic conditions (e.g., lung or heart disease, diabetes, or cancer) are at greatest risk for P&I. During major epidemics, hospitalization rates for persons at highest risk may increase twofold to fivefold. However, only 30% of persons aged > or = 65 years responding to CDC's National Health Interview Survey for 1989 reported having received the influenza vaccine during the previous year. In 1988, the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) and CDC began a congressionally mandated 4-year demonstration project to evaluate the cost-effectiveness to Medicare of providing influenza vaccine to Medicare beneficiaries. This report presents final results of the Medicare Influenza Vaccine Demonstration conducted during 1988-1992.