December 2, 2003(American Journal of Public Health) -- Adults who are at high-risk from flu complications are strongly urged to get an influenza vaccination this year, yet a study shows a racial disparity in the response.
In an analysis of data from the 1999 Health Interview Study, researchers found that white adults with diabetes, chronic heart conditions and cancer were much more likely to get a flu shot than blacks with the same conditions. White patients with two or more high-risk conditions also were more likely to receive flu shots than blacks with the same health conditions.
The study data included 7,655 adults with diabetes, chronic heart conditions, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer and asthma. For the adults over age 65, 72 percent of whites with two or more of the health conditions were vaccinated against influenza, compared with 58 percent of the black patients with the same health conditions.
"Missed vaccination opportunities need to be exploited," the study's authors wrote," especially in light of data suggesting that a physician's recommendation strongly influences a patient's decision to be vaccinated."
