Examination of pneumococcal vaccination rates among U.S. adult smokers

Pneumococcal vaccination rates among U.S. adult smokers in rural and nonrural areas were compared to determine the effect of federal vaccination recommendations.

Using bivariate and multivariate techniques, 2005 and 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey data were analyzed for comparative purposes. The dependent variable for this analysis was receipt of pneumococcal vaccine. The population of interest was U.S. adults age 19-64 years who reported that they currently smoked. Covariates included sex, race and ethnicity, household income, educational attainment, geographic area (rural or nonrural location of last routine medical checkup), having a personal health care provider, having health insurance, deferring medical care because of cost, self-defined health status, and receipt of seasonal influenza vaccination in the past 12 months. Results In 2005, 15.5% of smokers reported that they had ever received a pneumonia vaccine; by 2010, this percentage increased to 20.8%. In 2005, rural adult smokers were more likely to receive a pneumococcal vaccine (odds ratio [OR], 1.357; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.338-1.377) than their nonrural counterparts. In 2010, rural adult smokers were less likely to receive the vaccine (OR, 0.952; 95% CI, 0.938-0.966). In both years, men were more likely to receive pneumococcal vaccine, as were those with health insurance and a health care provider. Overall, receipt of a seasonal influenza vaccine was the strongest predictor of smokers receiving pneumococcal vaccine.

U.S. adult smokers were most likely to receive pneumococcal vaccine if they were men, had health insurance, had a health care provider, and received a seasonal influenza vaccination within the past year.