Indicator Metadata
| Name | Influenza Immunization for Seniors |
| Short/Other Names |
Not applicable |
| Description | The percentage of persons age 65 and older who report that they had their last influenza immunization (flu shot) less than one year ago |
| Interpretation | High results are desirable. |
| HSP Framework Dimension |
Health System Outputs: Appropriate and effective |
| Areas of Need |
Staying Healthy |
| Geographic Coverage |
All provinces/territories |
| Reporting Level/Disaggregation |
National, Province/Territory, Region |
| Indicator Results |
| Name | Influenza Immunization for Seniors |
| Short/Other Names |
Not applicable |
| Description | The percentage of persons age 65 and older who report that they had their last influenza immunization (flu shot) less than one year ago |
| Calculation: Description | Population age 65 and older who received an influenza immunization (flu shot) less than one year ago, divided by the total number of survey respondents age 65 and older who responded to the question Population estimates are based on weighted survey responses to reflect the total population. |
| Calculation: Geographic Assignment |
Place of residence |
| Calculation: Type of Measurement |
Percentage or proportion |
| Calculation: Adjustment Applied |
None |
| Calculation: Method of Adjustment |
Not applicable |
| Denominator |
Description: |
| Numerator |
Description: |
| Rationale |
It has been recognized for many years that people age 65 and older are at greater risk of serious complications from the flu compared with young, healthy adults. Every year, up to 20,000 Canadians are hospitalized as a result of influenza illness. It is estimated that between 4,000 and 8,000 persons, mostly seniors, die from pneumonia or pneumonia-related complications each year. This is because human immune defenses become weaker with age. For this reason, seniors age 65 years and older are advised to get influenza vaccine each year. |
| Interpretation |
High results are desirable. |
| HSP Framework Dimension |
Health System Outputs: Appropriate and effective |
| Areas of Need |
Staying Healthy |
| Targets/Benchmarks |
Not applicable |
| References |
An Advisory Committee Statement (ACS) and National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2011-2012. Canada Communicable Disease Report. Ottawa, ON: Public Health Agency of Canada; 2011. Available at http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/ccdr-rmtc/11vol37/acs-dcc-5/index-eng.php. Accessed September 12, 2016. Schanzer DL, Tam TW, Langley JM, Winchester BT. Influenza attributable deaths, Canada 1990-1999. Epidemiol Infect. 2007;135(7):1109-1116. PM:17306052. Center for Disease Control and Prevention on What You Should Know and Do this Flu Season If You Are 65 Years and Older. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/65over.htm. Accessed September 12, 2016. Statistics Canada. Health Trends. Statistics Canada Catalogue No. 82-213-XWE. Ottawa. Released December 12, 2013. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/health-sante/82-213/index.cfm?Lang=ENG. Accessed September 12, 2016. Health Link BC. Why Seniors Should get the inactivated flu (influenza) vaccine; 2013. Available at http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthfiles/hfile12a.stm. Accessed September 12, 2016. |
| Data Sources |
CCHS, Statistics Canada |
| Available Data Years |
Type of Year: |
| Geographic Coverage |
All provinces/territories |
| Reporting Level/Disaggregation |
National, Province/Territory, Region |
| Update Frequency |
Every year |
| Indicator Results |
Web Tool: |
| Updates |
Not applicable |
| Caveats and Limitations |
Regional-level results for Nova Scotia are not available. In 2014, the Health Authorities Act passed by the Nova Scotia legislature consolidated the 10 district health authorities into 2 (1 provincial health authority with 4 management zones, and the IWK Health Centre). Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) data was not available for the new health authority boundaries. The data year reflects the CCHS survey cycle. Prior to 2007, data for the CCHS was collected every 2 years, involving a sample of 130,000 respondents. In 2007, the survey transitioned to a yearly collection cycle, involving a sample of 65,000 respondents. Some values have data quality flags that indicate "use with caution" or "suppressed" due to high coefficients of variation: health regions with small populations and results disaggregated by age group or sex within small regions. The 2-year combined data has higher precision (less variability) than annual estimates. Users should refer to the annual CANSIM Table 105-0501 as the source for 2014 yearly CCHS estimates, as well as to obtain data from previous years. However, where data quality flags indicate suppression (F) or higher variability (E), the 2-year CANSIM Table 105-0502 should be used. Self-reported data is subject to bias. The CCHS covers the population age 12 and older living in the 10 provinces and 3 territories. Excluded from the survey's coverage are the following: –Persons living on reserves and other Aboriginal settlements in the provinces –Full-time members of the Canadian Forces –The population of institutionalized persons –Persons living in 2 Quebec health regions: Nunavik Health Region and Terres-Cries-de-la-Baie-James Health Region Altogether, these exclusions represent less than 3% of the target population. In the North, the frame for the CCHS covers 92% of the target population in Yukon, 96% in the Northwest Territories and 92% in Nunavut. Before 2013, coverage in Nunavut was 71%. |
| Trending Issues |
Not applicable |
| Comments |
The 2009 data on flu shots may include H1N1 vaccines received in fall 2009. In 2010, the word "seasonal" was added to the questions in order to collect the two types of vaccines separately. Indicator results are also available in
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