Correlates of Seasonal Flu Vaccination in Canada: Demographics, Epidemics, and Vaccination Program Design

Abstract

This paper examines the correlates of seasonal flu vaccination in Canada between 2000 and 2011. In terms of the socio-economic characteristics of the population that relate to higher take-up, my findings are consistent with the previous literature. Specifically, the most important predictors of vaccination are the risk factors: age and chronic conditions. My results also suggest that both novel respiratory disease outbreaks and provincial immunization program design are important determinants of the seasonal flu vaccine take-up. The absence of a separate vaccine intended to protect from a novel virus during its epidemic could increase the seasonal flu vaccine take-up. In cases when a separate vaccine is offered, the seasonal flu vaccine take-up depends on the timing of vaccines’ delivery and the extent of prior influenza immunization coverage for a specific population subgroup in a province.