Background: The main influenza complications particularly affect patients over the age of 65 years and those with associated chronic diseases, such as respiratory disorders. This study aims to assess vaccination coverage among Spanish children and adults with chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs), and to describe the factors associated with vaccination in 2003.
Methods: We analysed 28,113 records of individuals (6869 children and 21,244 adults) included in the Spanish National Health Survey (NHS) for 2003. As a dependent variable, we used the reply ('yes' or 'no') to the question: 'Did you have a 'flu shot in the latest campaign?' We calculated influenza vaccine coverage as the percentage of individuals with a respiratory disorder (asthma and/or chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema) who reported having been vaccinated against influenza in the most recent campaign. We analysed the influence of sociodemographic, health-status, medical visits and lifestyle variables on vaccination.
Results: Vaccination coverage was 19.9% in children and 54.7% in adults suffering CRD. In both age groups, coverages were significantly higher than those observed for non-CRD sufferers. Among adults, older age, not smoking and medical visits to their physician in the preceding 2 weeks were the variables independently and significantly associated with a higher likelihood of receiving the vaccine. Among children, financial factors influence vaccination.
Conclusions: Vaccination coverage among children with CRDs is very low. Also among adult CRD sufferers, vaccination remains below the desired level, thereby making it necessary for strategies to be implemented aimed at improving the use of influenza vaccine.