Adult Population Coverage With Influenza Vaccine and Influenza Hospitalization Rates-Is There a Role for Active Outreach to Immunize At-Risk Neighborhoods?

We evaluated whether Denver neighborhoods with elevated rates of adult hospitalizations for laboratory-confirmed influenza had lower adult coverage with influenza vaccine. Overall vaccine coverage was low. Hospitalization rates were associated with demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Active immunization of at-risk neighborhoods may be necessary to address disparities in influenza hospitalization rates.

Automated summary

The study found that neighborhoods in Denver with higher rates of adult hospitalizations due to laboratory-confirmed influenza had lower coverage of influenza vaccine among adults. Overall vaccine coverage was low, and hospitalization rates were associated with demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Active immunization strategies in at-risk neighborhoods may be necessary to address disparities in influenza hospitalization rates.