60 percent of U.S. hasn't gotten flu shot

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ATLANTA, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. flu vaccination coverage estimates so far for this influenza season are similar to those from the same time during last flu season, a survey indicates.

This report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention compared November 2012 estimates with results from the November 2011 and March 2011 National Immunization Survey and National Flu Survey.

The survey methods for the child data collection was the same for the two seasons. However, the survey methods for the adult data changed. Last season the survey was a telephone survey while this season the survey was an Internet survey.

For this year, 36 percent of people six months and older got a flu vaccine, while 40 percent of children were vaccinated and 35 percent of adults were vaccinated -- the flu vaccination coverage estimates were similar to those from the same time during the last flu season.

Among children, early season flu vaccination coverage was similar across all the racial/ethnic groups, but among adults, Hispanics had lower flu vaccination coverage than both non-Hispanic white adults and non-Hispanic other or multiple race adults.

Among both adults and children, the most common places for flu vaccination were medical locations. But, retail settings such as drug stores and work places were other important venues for adults, the survey said.

A total of 17,024 NIS interviews were completed for children age 6 months to 17 from Oct. 4 to Nov. 17. The adult estimates were based on data from the November National Internet Flu Survey conducted by GfK Custom Research, LLC for the University of Michigan, and sponsored by the CDC.