Mass commuting and influenza vaccination prevalence in New York City: Protection in a mixing environment

ObjectiveAssess influenza vaccination among commuters using mass transit in New York City (NYC).MethodsWe used the 2006 NYC Community Health Survey (CHS) to analyze the prevalence of influenza immunization by commuting behaviors and to understand what socioeconomic and geographic factors may explain any differences found.ResultsVaccination prevalence is significantly lower for New Yorkers who commute on public transportation compared to other New Yorkers. This difference is largely attenuated after adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics and neighborhood of residence.ConclusionsThe analysis identified a low prevalence of immunization among commuters, and given the transmissibility in that setting, targeting commuters for vaccination campaigns may impede influenza spread.