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Adult immunization rates mostly unchanged, racial gaps remain
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There were only modest increases in vaccination rates for some adult non-influenza vaccinations in 2012 compared with 2011. In addition, racial/ethnic gaps in vaccinations persisted and even widened for some vaccines, according to an MMWR report.
Among adults aged 19 to 64 years, there was a 3.2 percentage point increase in coverage with tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine from 2011 to 2012. For herpes zoster vaccine, 20.1% of adults aged at least 60 years received the vaccine in 2012 vs. 15.8% in 2011. In 2012, 34.5% of women aged 19 to 26 years received at least one dose of HPV vaccine, a 5 percentage point increase from 2011.
The rate of pneumococcal vaccination coverage was 20% among adults aged 19 to 64 years at high risk in 2012, similar to the 2011 rate estimate. Among adults aged at least 65 years, the rate was 59.9%, also similar to the 2011 rate. The proportion of adults who had received a tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine within the past 10 years was similar. For adults aged 19 to 64 years who were living with an infant, the rate of Tdap vaccination was 25.9%, also similar to 2011.
Coverage rate for hepatitis A among travelers to highly endemic countries was similar to 2011, as was vaccination coverage for hepatitis B for high-risk individuals and health care workers. Whites had significantly higher rates of coverage for most vaccinations.
“Improvement in adult vaccination is needed to reduce the health consequences of vaccine-preventable diseases among adults and to prevent pertussis morbidity and mortality in infants, who need the protection afforded by Tdap vaccination during pregnancy recommendation,” the researchers wrote. “Routine assessment of adult patient vaccination needs, recommendation and offer of needed vaccinations for adults should be incorporated into routine clinical care of adults.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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