Immunizations

Indicator Definition 
Adults (ages 65 and older) who had a flu shot within the past year and had a pneumonia vaccine at some point.

Older adults with appropriate immunizations in Colorado4

Older adults with appropriate immunizations by sex in Colorado5

Indicator Significance
Older adults are more susceptible to infections and often experience more severe symptoms from infections and other illnesses as they age. Complications from influenza and pneumonia are the sixth leading cause of death among older adults. More than 60,000 adults 65 and older die each year from such complications, many of which are preventable through recommended immunizations. Older adults are at greater risk of dying from infection-related illnesses than from a fatal car accident. Since flu and pneumonia spread from person to person, being vaccinated for both also protects friends and family with whom one has close contact. Physicians recommend an annual flu shot after the age of 50 and a single dose of pneumonia vaccine at age 65.¹

Colorado Specifics
Colorado ranks sixth among the 50 states in the proportion of older adults who report having had a flu shot within the past year and having been vaccinated for pneumonia (down from first in 2006). Despite its ranking in the top 10, Colorado’s older adult vaccination rate of 61 percent is still far below the Healthy People 2010 target of 90 percent. This vaccination rate has changed little in the past five years. Females tend to have slightly higher rates (64.2 percent) than males (56.8 percent).

Promising Initiatives
In Colorado
The Colorado Influenza and Pneumococcal Alert Coalition (CIPAC) seeks to raise public awareness of the importance of older adults receiving vaccinations. In 2002, CIPAC was awarded the Excellence in Immunization Award by the National Partners for Immunization (NPI) for its outstanding community outreach program. CIPAC has developed commercials and collects and disseminates pertinent data to health care providers.²

Elsewhere
To raise awareness among older adults and to generate media interest, San Diego County, Calif., ran a Boomer Biker Immunization Ride (BBIR) for baby-boomers who ride Harley Davidson motorcycles. The first event, held in 2006, concluded with the immunization of more than 70 older adults at a local Harley Davidson store. The event attracted media attention and reached a large audience with messages about the importance of adult immunizations.³

Older adults with appropriate immunizations⁶

Text

1. 100% Immunization Campaign.
   
2. Colorado Influenza and Pneumococcal Alert Coalition.
   
3. California Adult Immunization Coalition. “The 2007 California Adult Immunization Summit: Executive Summary”; 2007.
   

Charts

4. Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Colorado Health Institute analysis of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2000 – 2007, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
   
5. Source: Colorado Health Institute analysis of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2007, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
   
6. Source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2007, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.