Increasing influenza vaccination adherence through voice mail.

The number of influenza and influenza-related deaths is alarmingly high, yet mean vaccination adherence rates among the high-risk elderly population remain at only 20%. The present study investigates the use of an inexpensive voice-mail system, TeleMinder, as a method of increasing influenza vaccination adherence among a subpopulation of elders identified as low adherers. The first group of older people received no intervention. Group 2 received a voice-mail message informing them of the cost, time, date, and location of an influenza vaccination clinic. Group 3 was exposed to posted and verbal announcements alone. Group 4 both received voice mail and was exposed to posted and verbal announcements. Vaccination adherence levels for groups 1 through 4 were 1.5%, 11.8%, 7.4%, and 37.5%, respectively. Voice mail significantly increased vaccination adherence either alone or in combination with posted and verbal announcements. These findings suggest that voice mail provides an inexpensive means of increasing influenza vaccination rates.