Influenza Vaccination Disparities

The AMA and its Minority Affairs Consortium (MAC) is committed to eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities.  Ethnic and racial disparities continue to persist, especially in influenza and pneumoccal immunization rates. One way to eliminate health disparities is to promote preventative health care. The AMA MAC is asking its members to encourage their patients to get influenza vaccinations using the influenza recommendations at www.cdc.gov/nip/flu (This link will take you off of the AMA Web site. The AMA is not responsible for its content.)  For more information on the influenza vaccine supply visit the AMA's Influenza Vaccine Supply Update Web site.

Data on influenza and disparities:

• Each year 114,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized because of influenza.
• 36,000 people die annually due to influenza and its complications.
• African Americans and Hispanics have significantly lower influenza and pneumoccal immunization rates compared to the rest of the population.

The medical community should make sure the vaccine goes to whose who need it the most. Education regarding infection control measures to avoid getting the flu needs to be stressed to patients. Here are some ways to stop the spread of germs at home, school, and work to share with your patients.

• Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
• Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work or school and do not run errands if you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
• Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
• Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will protect you from germs.

To learn more about health disparities visit http://www.ama-assn.org/go/healthdisparities

Claudia Martorell, MD, MPH, at-large representative on the MAC Governing Council provided some of the information presented here. These materials  and resources are provided for informational purposes only and do not indicate endorsement by the AMA. Contact your physician if you have a medical or health concern.