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Date: Friday, May 16, 1997 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: HCFA Press Office (202) 690-6145
The survey, conducted by HHS' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, showed a similar increase for men and women from CDC's previous survey in 1993. The survey will be published in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report this summer.
"These figures show that with the important boost from Medicare's reimbursement for flu shots in 1995, we are already very close to our goal of a 60 percent annual immunization rate for those 65 and older by the year 2000," said HHS Secr etary Donna E. Shalala. "This increase is encouraging, and I hope our continued efforts will lead to further improvement in adult immunization rates."
During the 1995 flu shot season, several Peer Review Organizations (PROs) implemented projects to encourage Medicare beneficiaries to get their flu shots. In addition, HCFA and its regional offices worked closely with the CDC, the National Coalit ion for Adult Immunization (NCAI) and other organizations to distribute information on the Medicare flu shot benefit. Further efforts were made by HCFA, CDC, the Administration on Aging, the PROs and NCAI throughout the 1996 flu shot season and will cont inue in 1997.
Medicare coverage for flu shots for the elderly began in 1993, and marked the beginning of the Clinton administration's effort to increase immunization rates among older adults. The shots are free for those enrolled in Medicare Part B from physic ians who accept Medicare payment as full payment. Medicare also covers vaccinations against pneumococcal infection, a common cause of pneumonia. This shot need not be repeated for most beneficiaries. The administration's 1998 budget proposal includes a dditional preventive benefits for Medicare, including annual mammograms and a new diabetes self-management benefit.
Despite the availability of preventive vaccines, flu and pneumonia remain the fifth leading cause of death among the elderly, taking as many as 70,000 lives each year. It is estimated that up to 80 percent of deaths from the flu could be prevente d with a flu shot.
Data from various sources show that influenza immunization rates among African-Americans, including African-American Medicare beneficiaries, are about half that of the white population.
"We are making an extra effort to reach medically underserved groups and areas," said Bruce C. Vladeck, administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration, the HHS agency that oversees the Medicare program. "For example, our Horizons Pilot Project is designed to increase flu vaccination rates among African-American Medicare beneficiaries."
Through the Horizons project, a two-year initiative, Medicare PROs in eight states are working with historically black colleges and universities, and public health departments in those states, to design and implement culturally sensitive awareness activities. These efforts are aimed specifically at encouraging African- American Medicare beneficiaries in those states to get an annual flu shot.
Preliminary results from the public health departments have shown an increase in flu immunizations in the target areas. For example, Mississippi Health Department data show that during October and November 1996, 20,000 more shots were given to th ose aged 65 and older than were given altogether in Mississippi in 1995. In addition, the State Health Department in Texas had ordered 300,000 units of vaccine and had to reorder more prior to the end of the 1996 flu shot season.
These reports suggest successful Horizons campaigns in those states. The Horizons partners will use what they have learned from their 1996 projects to carry out quality improvements on a statewide level in the 1997 flu shot season.
CDC's survey was conducted to estimate state levels for flu shots within the past 12 months and pneumococcal vaccinations ever received. Responses were obtained from more than 22,000 older adults, including 14,636 women, from all 50 states.
The states with the highest percentage of residents 65 and older getting the flu vaccine in 1995 were Utah at 70 percent and Oregon at 67 percent. Tennessee had the largest percentage gain in flu shots for the elderly, recording a 17 percentage-p oint rise, 46 percent to 63 percent, from 1993 to 1995. This survey collected vaccination data only in 1987 and, beginning in 1993, every other year. Data will be collected in 1997.
In 1987, when CDC conducted the survey in 32 states, the overall rate for flu shots was only 32 percent.
"This shows a continuing upward trend since the 1980s in the percentage of the elderly receiving flu shots," Vladeck said. "A simple flu shot often turns out to be a life-saver for many frail elderly, and at the same time, the shot s help avoid needless suffering and unnecessary medical costs caused by complications from getting the flu."