Flu shots in Canada: are they getting to those who need them most?

The Issue Despite increasing awareness about influenza viruses and how quickly they can spread and cause illness, influenza epidemics still place great burdens on society globally in terms of morbidity, mortality and lost productivity each year. Influenza infections are generally not severe for most healthy adults and older children, but for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, young children and those with chronic medical conditions, influenza can lead to serious complications and even death. Influenza vaccination is the cornerstone for the prevention and control of influenza, and studies have shown that the vaccinations are generally beneficial and cost-effective for most age groups. Over the past decade, Canadians have been rolling up their sleeves in large numbers in an effort to protect themselves. In 1993, a national consensus conference on influenza set targets for vaccination rates at 70% for seniors aged 65 years or older, as well as for all people with chronic medical conditions. These targets were raised to 80% in 2005. Most provinces and territories have publicly funded programs that offer free influenza vaccinations targeting both vulnerable populations and those who have contact with vulnerable populations, including healthcare workers. In 2000, Ontario introduced the world’s first large-scale Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP) to provide free influenza vaccines for the entire provincial population aged six months or older, while other provinces continued their targeted programs. To better understand influenza vaccination patterns, scientists at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) reported on the latest trends in vaccination rates in Canada for the period 1996–2005, identified the characteristics of people likely to get a flu shot in Canada for 2005 and assessed the effects of Ontario’s UIIP on influenza vaccination rates. The Study Data from the 1996–1997 National Population Health Survey and the 2000–2001, 2003 and 2005 Canadian Community Health Surveys were used to assess influenza vaccination rates for the national household population aged 12 years and older. Survey respondents were asked, “Have you ever had a flu shot?” and, if so, “When were you last vaccinated?” Only people who had been vaccinated within the previous 12 months were considered to be actively immunized.