Open AccessTetanus immunization of adult members of an HMO.
Author(s) -
John P. Mullooly
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.74.8.841
Subject(s) - tetanus , medicine , immunization , toxoid , diphtheria , booster dose , booster (rocketry) , pediatrics , vaccination , demography , immunology , antibody , physics , astronomy , sociology
Thirty-nine per cent of 1,900 randomly selected adult Health Plan members received one or more tetanus injections during a 10-year period of continuous eligibility. Age-specific immunization rates decreased from 47 per cent for 20-39 year olds to 28 per cent for those over age 70. Nearly half of the elderly, age 60+, received a booster of tetanus toxoid rather than tetanus-diphtheria toxoids as recommended by the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee of the Centers for Disease Control. Access to care does not appear to be a sufficient condition for achieving recommended levels of immunization, especially among the elderly.