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Influenza vaccination rates increased among patients with asthma
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Influenza vaccination coverage among those with asthma increased to 50% in 2010-2011, up from 36% during the 2005-2006 influenza season, according to the CDC.
However, influenza vaccine coverage still lags behind the Healthy People 2020 target of 80% for children aged 6 months to 17 years and the 90% coverage goal for high-risk adults.
“Although persons with asthma are not more likely than others to get influenza, influenza can make asthma symptoms worse, trigger asthma attacks and lead to pneumonia or other complications that result in hospitalizations and even death,” the study researchers wrote in MMWR.
The most recent findings are based on responses from 32,636 participants in the National Health Interview Survey in 2010-2011.
During the survey period, coverage among those with current asthma increased the most in children aged 2 to 17 years — from 32.5% to 52.8% — and was similar to increases seen in children in the same age group without asthma — 15.9% to 38.8%.
This is the first update to influenza vaccine coverage statistics in patients with asthma since the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice’s 2010-2011 decision to expanded influenza vaccine recommendations to include everyone aged at least 6 months.
“These findings highlight the need to increase awareness of the importance of seasonal influenza vaccination for people with asthma,” the CDC wrote.
The agency’s Task Force on Community Preventive Services recommends instituting multicomponent interventions to increase access to vaccination services by cutting out-of-pocket costs with initiatives such as provider and client reminder systems.
Disclosure: The study researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
Perspective
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Matthew J. Greenhawt, MD, MBA, MSc, FAAP
Influenza infection poses major risks to asthmatic individuals. These include increased health care costs, lost work days, increased office visits, hospitalization, ICU admission and mechanical ventilation, pneumonia and death. All individuals older than 6 months with asthma are now recommended to receive annual influenza vaccination. Vaccination remains the most effective way to curb disease transmission. Despite the risks of infection, national influenza vaccination rates for asthmatics have remained below target (now set at 80% for children and 90% for adults as part of Healthy People 2020).
In this study, using data from the 2010 and 2011 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), the CDC examined reported influenza vaccination coverage. They found that during 2010-2011, higher proportions of children and adults with asthma reported receiving vaccination than non-asthmatics. Asthmatic adults aged 18 to 49 years had the fewest patients report they were vaccinated, and patients aged older than 65 years had the highest rates. Overall 49.6% of responding individuals with asthma reported receiving vaccination (compared with 37.5% of those without asthma).
These data are not overall reassuring, however. Though rates are increasing compared with previous years (data taken from knowledge of other studies) these ranges are well below target and remain below the former target established in Healthy People 2010 of 60%. We have to do a better job at fostering compliance with these recommendations. This is a vulnerability issue, and something that can be easily corrected given changes in the health care law that aim to increase access to care and preventative services, and modernize medical practices through transition to electronic medical records that can facilitate tracking of best-practices strategies.
Yes, there is mixed evidence as to the efficacy of influenza vaccine in preventing influenza-related asthma exacerbations. However, the fact remains that vaccination still does help decrease transmission of illness, and remains the best line of protection for individuals with asthma against infection.
I strongly encourage you to make sure all your asthmatic patients receive their influenza vaccine this year.
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