Objectives: To assess influenza immunisation rates and coverage in adult patients from Australian general practice and identify whether practice or patients' characteristics are associated with vaccination uptake.
Design: Open cohort study.
Setting: 550 Australian general practices included in the MedicineInsight database.
Participants: Patients aged 18+ years who had at least one consultation during influenza season between 2015 and 2017. Two samples were considered: (1) 'active' patients (at least three consultations in any two consecutive years) and (2) 'every year' patients (at least one consultation per year).
Main outcome measures: Influenza vaccination rates per 1,000 consultations and coverage (% vaccinated among those who consulted) from 2015 to 2017.
Results: Between 2015 and 2017 the influenza vaccine rate changed from 57.4 to 51.7 and 67.0 per 1,000 consultations, while correspondent values for coverage were 29.3%, 25.2% and 27.6% (in 'active' patients). Vaccine coverage was at least 30% higher in inner regional areas, among patients aged 65+ years or those with comorbidities. Similar associations were found among 'every year' patients, but average coverage across the three years was higher (41% vs 27%). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, either with or without comorbidity, showed a vaccine coverage 10-30% higher than non-Indigenous people for those aged less than 65 years (p-value for interaction < 0.001).
Conclusion: MedicineInsight data is a useful and low-cost method to monitor influenza immunisation coverage. Independent of the sample used, vaccination coverage among Indigenous people or patients with comorbidities could be improved. Targeted strategies for high-risk groups need to be developed.
Keywords: Electronic health records; General practice; Influenza vaccines; Vaccination coverage.
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