Experiences with obtaining influenza vaccination among persons in priority groups during a vaccine shortage--United States, October-November, 2004

After the announcement that the supply of inactivated influenza vaccine available to the U.S. public for the 2004-05 influenza season would be reduced by approximately one half, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended that the remaining vaccine supply should be reserved for 1) certain groups of persons at high risk for serious health problems from influenza, 2) health-care workers involved in direct patient care, and 3) close contacts of children aged <6 months. To determine what proportion of persons at increased risk for influenza complications had been vaccinated as of the day of the survey, what proportion sought vaccination but did not receive it because of the shortage, and what factors might be dissuading persons at high risk from seeking influenza vaccination, Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), in collaboration with International Communications Research, conducted a national survey. This report summarizes the results of that survey, which indicated that approximately 63% of persons aged > or =65 years and 46% of chronically ill adults who tried to get the influenza vaccine were able to do so. More than half of adults at high risk did not try to get the influenza vaccine. Because available supplies of inactivated influenza vaccine are targeted to high-risk groups, persons in these groups should continue to pursue vaccination.