Coverage and predictors of influenza vaccination among adults living in a large metropolitan area in Spain: A comparison between the immigrant and indigenous populations

This study sought to evaluate influenza vaccination coverage in Madrid (Spain). Coverages were estimated for vaccine target groups and special attention was placed on the immigrant population. Individual data from 7341 adults included in the Madrid City Health Survey conducted in 2005 was used. Overall influenza vaccination coverage was 24%. Compliance with age-based influenza vaccine guidelines (≥65 years) was 63.9%, among those <65 years who had an associated chronic condition, it was 37.9% and 24.1% among HCWs. Immigrants accounted for 12.4% of the sample. Overall crude coverage was significantly lower among immigrants than among the indigenous population (11.2% vs. 25.9%), but once the multivariate analysis had been performed, the association became non-significant. In conclusion, it must be said that all the available evidence indicates an inadequate level of influenza vaccination coverage among HCWs and high-risk subjects <65 years. On the other hand, coverages among subjects aged ≥65 years are acceptable and there is no observable difference in vaccine use between immigrants and indigenous subjects. Strategies that have demonstrated their effectiveness in enhancing vaccination coverages should be applied in Madrid.