Pneumococcal and influenza vaccination levels among adults aged > or = 65 years--United States, 1995.

In 1995, pneumonia and influenza together ranked sixth among the 10 leading causes of death in the United States. An estimated 90% of deaths caused by these illnesses occur among adults aged > or = 65 years. In addition, pneumococcal infections are the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia requiring hospitalization and account for an estimated 40,000 deaths annually in the United States. A national health objective for 2000 is to increase pneumococcal and influenza vaccination levels to > or = 60% for persons at high risk for complications from pneumococcal disease and influenza, including those aged > or = 65 years (objective 20.11). To estimate state-specific pneumococcal and influenza vaccination levels for persons aged > or = 65 years, CDC analyzed data from the 1995 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). This report summarizes the BRFSS findings, which indicate sustained increases in self-reported coverage levels for pneumococcal and influenza vaccination among persons aged > or = 65 years; compares these findings with data from the 1993 BRFSS; and assesses progress toward the 2000 objective.