Influenza vaccine is underused in groups targeted for vaccination.
All elderly members of a managed care organization who had a previous diagnosis of chronic lung disease. All data were obtained from administrative databases. It was also associated with fewer outpatient visits for pneumonia and influenza and for all respiratory conditions. For elderly persons with chronic lung disease, influenza is associated with significant adverse health effects and influenza vaccination is associated with substantial health benefits, including fewer outpatient visits, fewer hospitalizations, and fewer deaths. Health care providers should take advantage of all opportunities to immunize these high-risk patients.