Influenza Vaccine Supply and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Vaccination Among the Elderly

Background The impact of vaccine shortages on disparities in influenza vaccination is uncertain. Purpose The objective of this research was to examine the association between influenza vaccine supply and racial/ethnic disparities in vaccination rates among elderly Medicare beneficiaries. Methods Cross-sectional multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed in 2010 to examine whether racial/ethnic disparities in vaccination rates changed across two consecutive seasons: from (Period 1) 2000–2001 and 2001–2002 seasons through (Period 4) 2003–2004 and 2004–2005 seasons. Self-reported receipt of influenza vaccine across consecutive years was examined among community-dwelling non-Hispanic African-American (AA); non-Hispanic white (W); English-speaking Hispanic (EH); and Spanish-speaking Hispanic (SH) elderly enrolled in the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (unweighted n =2306–2504, weighted n =8.23–8.99 million for Periods 1 through 4). Results During Periods 1 and 2, when vaccine supply increased nationally, adjusted racial/ethnic disparities in the influenza vaccination rate decreased by 1.8%–7.4% (W–AA disparity); 4.5%–6.6% (W–EH disparity); and 6.6%–11% (W–SH disparity) (all p