Public health research and national guidelines have
advocated for seasonal influenza vaccination in the
elderly. General practice has established itself as an
ideal setting for the safe administration and monitoring
of vaccines.1 Due to waning immune systems and
high levels of co-morbidities, the elderly are especially
vulnerable to the acquisition of infectious diseases.2
Influenza in the elderly results in increased levels of
hospitalisation, morbidity and mortality. This section
of society clearly benefits from annual vaccination
against circulating seasonal strains of influenza
virus.3
Since a major policy change in 2000 from riskrelated
vaccine administration to age-related vaccine
administration, vaccine uptake on average has
increased.1 Little is known about the vaccine
uptake patterns in the elderly population aged 85
years and over. The primary objective was to audit
the influenza vaccination uptake in Amherst
Medical Practice among individuals aged over 85
years. Secondary objectives were: to determine the
proportion of recurrent non-uptake of seasonal
influenza vaccination in the primary care setting,
to identify the underlying factors associated with
recurrent non-uptake of seasonal influenza vaccination,
and provide baseline information to target
and improve vaccine uptake among patients aged
over 85 years
