Changes in influenza vaccination coverage in Spain from 2001 to 2003. Analysis by autonomous communities

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate changes in influenza vaccination coverage in Spain by autonomous communities between 2001 and 2003 and to compare the influenza vaccination coverage obtained in Spanish National Health Surveys (NHS) with other official sources. METHODS: A total of 42,722 cases from the NHS for 2001 (n = 21,072) and 2003 (n = 21,650) were analyzed. All the cases corresponded to adults aged more than 15 years old. Both surveys are representative of the autonomous communities. RESULTS: For the entire sample, vaccine coverages of 19.3% (95% CI, 18.8-19.8) and 22.1% (95% CI, 21.4-22.8) were estimated in 2001 and 2003 respectively. In the logit regression model adjusted by age, sex and associated chronic diseases, significant improvements were found in coverage in individuals aged more than 64 years (odds ratio = 1.26; 95% CI, 1.14-1.40) for Spain as a whole and for 6 autonomous communities between 2001 and 2003. For the group aged less than 65 years with associated chronic diseases, a significant improvement in coverage was found for Spain as a whole and for 3 autonomous communities. CONCLUSIONS: Between 2001 and 2003, influenza vaccination coverage in the risk groups studied significantly improved in Spain and in several autonomous communities. The information on influenza vaccination coverage obtained in the Spanish National Health Surveys was similar to that found in the Autonomous Communities Health Surveys and in the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs.