Prevalence of influenza vaccination and pneumococcal vaccination in elderly and high-risk patients seen in a university general medicine clinic.

Charts of 240 unselected patients (149 women and 91 men), mean age 74 +/- 7 years (range, 64-95 years), seen in a university general medicine clinic at Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College between April 2004 and April 2007 were reviewed for the use of influenza vaccination and pneumococcal vaccination. Of the 240 patients, 108 (45%) had cardiovascular disease, 183 (76%) had hypertension, 70 (29%) had diabetes mellitus, 32 (13%) had chronic pulmonary disease, 30 (13%) had cancer, 26 (11%) had chronic renal disease, and 19 (8%) had no chronic illness. Of the 240 patients, 24 (10%) refused influenza vaccination and two (1%) had a hypersensitivity to eggs. Of 240 patients, 18 (8%) refused pneumococcal vaccination. Of 94 patients who did not refuse influenza vaccination or were allergic to eggs during the winter season of October 2004 through January 2005, 58 (62%) had influenza vaccination. Ninety-two of 172 patients (54%) had influenza vaccination during October 2005 through January 2006. Ninety-seven of 136 patients (71%) had influenza vaccination during October 2006 through January 2007. Of 222 patients, 111 (50%) had pneumococcal vaccination during 2004 through 2007.