Disparities in Influenza Vaccine Coverage in the United States, 2008

OBJECTIVES: To determine the distribution of influenza vaccine coverage in the United States in 2008. DESIGN: Cross‐sectional analysis. SETTING: The 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, which employs random‐digit dialing to interview noninstitutionalized adults in the United States and territories. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred forty‐nine thousand seven hundred twenty‐three persons aged 50 and older. MEASUREMENTS: Participants were asked whether they had had an influenza vaccination during the previous 12 months. RESULTS: In 2008, 42.0% of adults aged 50 to 64 and 69.5% of adults aged 65 and older reported receiving an influenza vaccination in the past 12 months. Vaccine coverage generally increased with advancing age (P