BACKGROUND: In Australia, @entity683 vaccination is recommended and provided free of charge for all adults aged >= 65 years and those aged <65 years with specific risk factors. Other than age, there is limited information on characteristics associated with vaccine uptake. METHODS: We used the 45 and Up Study, a large cohort of adults aged >= 45 years, who completed a questionnaire in 2012 asking about @entity683 vaccination. We compared characteristics of those reporting @entity683 vaccination in those aged <65 and >= 65 years using a log binomial model to estimate relative rates (RRs), adjusted for age and other factors. RESULTS: Among 27,036 @entity1 , the proportion reporting @entity683 vaccination in the last year increased steadily with age from 24.6% in those <54 years to 67.2% in those 75-79 years; of those eligible for universal free vaccine, (>= 65 years) 57.3% had an @entity683 vaccination in the previous year. Many characteristics associated with higher vaccination rates in adults aged <65 years (mean 60.7) and those >= 65 years (mean 73.7) were similar. These included sex ( @entity1 versus @entity1 : <65 years, @entity5262 .14[95% CI 1.08-1.20]; >= 65 years, @entity5262 .04[1.02-1.07]), higher BMI (>= 30kg/m(2) versus >18.5 to <25kg/m(2): <65 years, @entity5262 .16[1.09-1.24]; >= 65 years, @entity5262 .06[1.03-1.09]), requiring assistance with daily tasks versus not (<65 years, @entity5262 .27[1.15-1.40]; >= 65 years, @entity5262 .05[1.02-1.09]) and reporting versus not reporting specific @entity102 (<65 years, @entity5262 .55 [1.48-1.63]; >= 65 years, @entity5262 .08[1.06-1.10]). Current smokers had lower vaccination rates (<65 years, aRR=0.78[0.69-0.90]; >= 65 years, aRR=0.91[0.84-0.99]). Among those aged <65 years only, being a carer, higher income, and education were associated with @entity683 vaccination ( @entity5262 .32[1.19-1.47], 1.17[1.10-1.24] and 1.12[1.10-1.22] respectively). Non-English speaking country of birth was associated with lower vaccination rates in >= 65 years (aRR 0.86[0.81-0.92]). CONCLUSIONS: Factors most strongly associated with vaccination were age and among those aged <65 years, having a medical indication recommended for @entity683 vaccination, suggesting higher uptake among those who can access free vaccine. Among those eligible for free vaccination, interventions could be targeted towards @entity1 , smokers, those from non-English speaking backgrounds and those <65 years with a medical indication.

Factors associated with XXXX vaccination in middle and older aged Australian adults according to eligibility for the national vaccination program.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['participants', 'women', 'men'] @entity683 :: ('MESH:D007251', 'Disease') :: ['influenza'] @entity5262 :: ('408', 'Gene') :: ['aRR=1'] @entity102 :: ('MESH:D002908', 'Disease') :: ['chronic illnesses']
@entity683 :: (MESH:D007251,Disease) :: ['influenza']
