Pneumococcal immunizations at flu clinics: the impact of community-wide outreach

This study examined the effectiveness of a community-wide outreach campaign to promote the use of pneumococcal vaccine at public flu immunization clinics, and assessed whether this intervention was more effective than simply making pneumococcal vaccination available at such clinics. In 1997, a community-wide outreach campaign promoting pneumococcal and influenza immunizations was launched in a 17 zip code area of Dutchess County, NY. The campaign was aimed at 7,961 Medicare beneficiaries urging them to obtain pneumococcal immunization from local flu clinics. Medicare reimbursement data were used to assess the countywide pneumococcal vaccination rate, and to analyze differences between rates for beneficiaries in the target area and elsewhere in the county. Between 1996 and 1997 there was a 94% increase in pneumococcal vaccination billed to Medicare beneficiaries in Dutchess County. The 1997 annual rate of pneumococcal immunization in the target area reached 16.3% versus 12.2% elsewhere in the county (p < 0.001), with an increase over the previous year of 8.7% and 5.6%, respectively. Nearly all of the increase is accounted for by pneumococcal vaccination delivered at flu clinics. It is possible to significantly increase the use of pneumococcal immunization by linking its delivery to community-based flu clinics and by developing local outreach strategies. The outreach campaign has a significant additive effect over simply making PPV available at flu shot clinics. Additional community-wide outreach can further improve pneumococcal immunization utilization rates.