Epidemiology of influenza vaccination in Canada

To assess influenza vaccine coverage among Canadian adults, questions about the fall/winter 1990-91 immunization campaign were added to the Statistics Canada 1991 General Social Survey. A total of 11,924 usable responses were obtained (response rate 80%). Overall, an estimated 13.8% (95% CI 13.1-14.5) of the Canadian population surveyed and 44.8% (95% CI 42.7-46.9) of the population 65 years of age and over received a "flu" shot during the fall/winter 1990-91 immunization campaign. A logistic regression model run separately in populations less than 65 years of age and in populations 65 and over reveals that, by far, the major predictor for receiving influenza vaccine was a recommendation by a nurse or physician. Two major reasons listed by persons 65 and over for not receiving the flu vaccine were 1) the belief they hardly ever get the flu (39%), and 2) they fear side effects (22%).