Vaccination Coverage Among Adults in the United States, National Health Interview Survey, 2015

At a glance

CDC recommends vaccinations for adults based on age, health conditions, prior vaccinations, and other factors to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases and related outcomes. This report summarizes vaccination coverage data for U.S. adults 19 years and older from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) of civilian non-institutionalized adults.

Overview

Adults are at risk of illness, hospitalization, disability, and, in some cases, death from vaccine-preventable diseases, particularly influenza (flu) and pneumococcal disease. CDC recommends vaccinations for adults based on age, health conditions, prior vaccinations, and other factors1 to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases and related outcomes. Many adults are not fully vaccinated, leaving them vulnerable to preventable illness.

This report summarizes data on vaccination coverage for U.S. adults 19 years and older from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)2. The NHIS is an in-person survey of eligible civilian non-institutionalized adults. Flu vaccination coverage estimates for the 2015-16 season have been reported separately3. Information on receipt of vaccinations, health and health care is self-reported and not verified through review of medical records or other means4.

Key Findings

  • Compared with 2014 NHIS estimates, modest increases in vaccination coverage occurred for some vaccines and age groups. Apart from these modest gains, vaccination coverage among adults in 2015 was similar to estimates from 2014.
    • Pneumococcal vaccination increased 2.8 percentage points to 23.0% among adults 19-64 years at increased risk for pneumococcal disease.
    • Tdap vaccination of adults 19 years and older increased by 3.1 percentage points overall to 23.1% and increased by 10.0 percentage points to 41.9% among adults living with an infant <1 year old.
    • Shingles (Herpes Zoster) vaccination increased 2.7 percentage points among adults 60 years and older to 30.6% and increased 3.2 percentage points among adults 65 years and older to 34.2%.
    • The 30% Healthy People 2020 target for shingles vaccination was met; however, this target is considerably lower than other targets (e.g., 70% for influenza vaccination of adults 19 years and older or 90% for pneumococcal vaccination of adults 65 years and older).
  • Racial and ethnic vaccination differences persisted for all vaccinations in this report with generally lower coverage for most vaccinations among black and Hispanic adults compared with white adults.

Conclusions/Recommendations

  • While modest gains occurred in coverage for pneumococcal, Tdap, and herpes zoster vaccinations, coverage did not improve for other vaccinations and many adults remained unvaccinated with recommended vaccines. Among adults 65 years and older:
  • Among adults younger than 65 years with indications for pneumococcal vaccination, approximately 3 out of every 4 did not report ever having been vaccinated.
  • The recommendation of a health care provider can ensure vaccination.
    • Following the Standards for Adult Immunization Practice, all providers should routinely assess adults’ vaccination status at every clinical encounter, strongly recommend needed vaccines, and either offer needed vaccines or refer their patients to another provider who can administer the recommended vaccine.
    • Vaccination providers should ensure reporting of vaccinations to their state’s immunization information system (IIS) to support consolidation of adult patients’ vaccination records56. Using their state’s IIS will help all providers access their patients’ immunization records and improve the ability to routinely and accurately assess their patients’ vaccination status.

Who Was Vaccinated?

TABLE 1. Estimated proportion of adults ≥19 years who received pneumococcal vaccination, by age group, increased-risk status*, and race/ethnicity†, National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2015

Vaccination, age group, increased-risk status, and race/ethnicity Sample size % (95% CI) Simple difference from 2014
Pneumococcal vaccination, ever
19-64 yrs, increased risk
Total 8,196 23.0 (21.8-24.3) 2.8
White 5,174 24.0 (22.5-25.6) 2.9
Black 1,225 22.0 (19.0-25.4) 1.8
Hispanic or Latino 1,206 19.4 (16.6-22.6) 3.1
Asian 290 21.5 (15.4-29.2) 6.9
Other 301 22.6 (16.5-30.1) -2.7
≥65 yrs
Total 8,057 63.6 (62.1-65.1) 2.3
White 5,893 68.1 (66.4-69.9) 3.4
Black 946 50.2 (46.5-53.9) 0.4
Hispanic or Latino 757 41.7 (37.2-46.3) -3.5
Asian 314 49.0 (41.7-56.3) 1.3
Other 147 62.7 (51.0-73.0) -6.7

TABLE 2. Estimated proportion of adults ≥19 years who received tetanus vaccination, not including and including pertussis vaccine, by age group, and race/ethnicity†, National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2015

Vaccination, age group, and race/ethnicity Sample size % (95% CI) Simple difference from 2014
Tetanus vaccination (received in past 10 years)
≥19 yrs
Total 31,441 61.6 (60.7-62.5) -0.6
White 19,594 66.5 (65.3-67.6) -0.8
Black 4,128 51.9 (49.8-53.8) 1.3
Hispanic or Latino 5,198 51.9 (49.9-53.8) -0.3
Asian 1,750 51.0 (47.8-54.2) 0.5
Other 828 63.8 (58.7-68.6) -7.6
19-49 yrs
Total 15,369 62.1 (60.9-63.3) -0.5
White 8,420 68.5 (66.9-70.0) -0.5
Black 2,021 53.4 (50.6-56.3) 0.6
Hispanic or Latino 3,398 51.3 (49.1-53.6) -0.6
Asian 1,034 54.1 (50.2-58.0) 2.3
Other 496 63.8 (57.3-69.7) -8.2
50-64 yrs
Total 8,216 64.1 (62.6-65.5) -0.6
White 5,446 68.7 (67.0-70.4) -0.7
Black 1,181 53.0 (49.4-56.6) 3.2
Hispanic or Latino 1,041 54.5 (50.5-58.4) -0.1
Asian 363 45.2 (37.6-53.0) -3.9
Other 185 64.6 (53.3-74.5) -10.3
≥65 yrs
Total 7,856 56.9 (55.3-58.4) -0.9
White 5,728 59.4 (57.6-61.1) -1.3
Black 926 43.8 (39.5-48.1) 0.6
Hispanic or Latino 747 50.6 (45.5-55.7) 1.4
Asian 308 46.7 (39.9-53.7) 0.1
Other 147 62.8 (47.4-76.0) -0.2
Tetanus vaccination including pertussis vaccine (received in past 10 years)
≥19 yrs
Total 20,406 23.1 (22.1-24.2) 3.1
White 12,264 27.0 (25.7-28.4) 3.2
Black 2,820 15.1 (13.2-17.2) 3.5
Hispanic or Latino 3,545 14.3 (12.7-16.0) 1.8
Asian 1,233 19.9 (17.2-22.8) 4.3
Other 544 29.7 (22.9-37.5) 2.3
Living with an infant aged<1 year 608 41.9 (36.5-47.6) 10.0
Not living with an infant aged<1 year 19,798 22.4 (21.4-23.4) 2.8
19-64 yrs
Total 15,262 24.7 (23.6-25.9) 3.3
White 8,627 29.7 (28.2-31.3) 3.6
Black 2,146 16.1 (14.0-18.4) 3.4
Hispanic or Latino 3,031 14.8 (13.2-16.6) 1.8
Asian 1,003 20.9 (17.9-24.2) 5.3
Other 455 31.1 (24.1-39.1) 2.4
Living with an infant aged<1 year 601 42.0 (36.6-47.6) 9.5
Not living with an infant aged<1 year 14,661 23.9 (22.8-25.1) 3.0
≥65 yrs
Total 5,144 16.5 (15.0-18.1) 2.5
White 3,637 18.2 (16.4-20.1) 2.5
Black 674 9.7 (7.2-12.9) 4.7
Hispanic or Latino 514 9.1 (6.0-13.6) 2.5
Asian 230 13.8 (8.6-21.4) -1.4
Other 89 - - -
Living with an infant aged<1 year 7 - - -
Not living with an infant aged<1 year 5,137 16.5 (14.9-18.1) 2.4

TABLE 3. Estimated proportion of adults ≥19 years who received Hepatitis A vaccination, by age group, increased-risk status*, and race/ethnicity†, National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2015

Vaccination, age group, increased-risk status, and race/ethnicity Sample size % (95% CI) Simple difference from 2014
Hepatitis A vaccination (at least 2 doses), ever
≥19 yrs
Total 28,680 9.0 (8.5-9.5) 0.1
Traveler 9,085 16.0 (15.0-17.0) 0.0
Nontraveler 19,543 5.4 (5.0-5.9) 0.1
With chronic liver conditions, overall 370 8.6 (5.6-13.0) -5.2
19-49 yrs
Total 13,272 12.3 (11.5-13.2) 0.2
White 7,314 12.8 (11.8-13.8) 0.0
Black 1,762 10.8 (8.9-13.0) -0.4
Hispanic or Latino 2,948 10.4 (9.0-11.9) 0.8
Asian 824 17.9 (14.5-21.8) 2.7
Other 424 14.1 (9.9-19.8) -0.6
Traveler 4,931 19.2 (17.8-20.8) 0.4
Nontraveler 8,321 8.1 (7.3-9.0) 0.0
With chronic liver conditions, overall 101 - - -
≥50 yrs
Total 15,408 5.5 (5.0-6.0) 0.0
Traveler 4,154 11.6 (10.4-13.0) -0.3
Nontraveler 11,222 2.9 (2.4-3.4) 0.0
With chronic liver conditions, overall 269 8.5 (4.9-14.4) -3.8

TABLE 4. Estimated proportion of adults ≥19 years who received Hepatitis B vaccination, by age group, increased-risk status*, and race/ethnicity†, National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2015

Vaccination, age group, increased-risk status, and race/ethnicity Sample size % (95% CI) Simple difference from 2014
Hepatitis B vaccination (at least 3 doses), ever
≥19 yrs
Total 29,743 24.6 (23.8-25.4) 0.1
Traveler 9,717 31.6 (30.4-32.9) 1.1
Nontraveler 19,964 20.9 (20.0-21.8) -0.6
With chronic liver conditions, overall 378 27.4 (21.6-34.1) -2.4
19-49 yrs
Total 14,076 32.0 (30.7-33.2) -0.3
White 7,726 34.9 (33.3-36.6) -1.4
Black 1,881 29.4 (26.8-32.2) -0.5
Hispanic or Latino 3,085 22.5 (20.5-24.6) 2.3
Asian 928 38.3 (34.6-42.1) 2.7
Other 456 36.3 (29.5-43.6) 2.7
Traveler 5,405 38.3 (36.5-40.1) 1.3
Nontraveler 8,647 28.0 (26.5-29.5) -1.4
With chronic liver conditions, overall 107 30.0 (19.0-44.0) -11.5
≥50 yrs
Total 15,667 16.5 (15.6-17.4) 0.8
Traveler 4,312 22.3 (20.6-24.2) 1.2
Nontraveler 11,317 13.9 (13.0-14.9) 0.6
With chronic liver conditions, overall 271 26.3 (19.5-34.4) 1.1
With diabetes, overall
19-59 yrs 1,195 24.4 (21.1-28.0) 0.8
≥60 yrs 2,075 12.6 (10.8-14.7) -0.9

TABLE 5. Estimated proportion of adults ≥60 years who received Herpes zoster vaccination, by age group and race/ethnicity†, National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2015

32.7-35.7

Vaccination, age group, and race/ethnicity Sample size % (95% CI) Simple difference from 2014
Herpes zoster (shingles) vaccination, ever
≥60 yrs
Total 10,855 30.6 (29.3-31.9) 2.7
White 7,832 34.6 (33.1-36.2) 2.7
Black 1,328 13.6 (11.1-16.6) 2.0
Hispanic or Latino 1,055 16.0 (13.4-18.9) 1.3
Asian 437 26.0 (20.4-32.5) 9.5
Other 203 28.0 (18.8-39.5) 11.8
60-64 yrs
Total 2,729 21.7 (19.5-24.0) 1.3
White 1,896 25.1 (22.3-28.0) 0.8
Black 379 12.7 (8.6-18.3) 4.6
Hispanic or Latino 285 9.1 (5.8-13.9) -2.1
Asian 113 14.6 (8.5-23.9) 6.8
Other 56 - - -
≥65 yrs
Total 8,216 34.2 (32.7-35.7) 3.2
White 5,936 38.3 (36.5-40.0) 3.2
Black 949 14.1 (11.4-17.4) 0.6
Hispanic or Latino 770 19.2 (16.1-22.9) 2.9
Asian 324 30.6 (23.9-38.3) 9.9
Other 147 28.9 (17.1-44.4) 9.3

TABLE 6. Estimated proportion of adults 19-26 years who received HPV vaccination, by age group and race/ethnicity†, National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2015

Vaccination, age group, increased-risk status, and race/ethnicity Sample size % (95% CI) Simple difference from 2014
HPV vaccination among females (at least 1 dose), ever
19-21 yrs
Total 540 42.0 (36.3-47.9) -2.8
22-26 yrs
Total 1,261 41.4 (37.2-45.6) 3.8
19-26 years
Total 1,801 41.6 (38.2-45.1) 1.3
White 917 44.7 (39.9-49.5) -1.6
Black 269 38.0 (29.7-47.1) 0.6
Hispanic or Latino 418 35.7 (29.9-42.0) 7.7
Asian 108 36.3 (24.8-49.5) 13.5
Other 89 45.5 (29.9-62.1) -1.8
HPV vaccination among males (at least 1 dose), ever
19-26 yrs yrs
Total 1,575 10.1 (8.3-12.3) 1.9
19-21 yrs
Total 479 15.7 (12.0-20.5) 2.4
22-26 yrs
Total 1,096 7.3 (7.3) 1.9

What Can Be Done? (Recommendations)

Many adults in the United States have not received recommended vaccinations and racial and ethnic vaccination differences persist. Incorporating routine assessment of adult vaccination needs, recommendation, and offer of needed vaccinations into routine clinical care of adults can help improve vaccination rates and narrow racial and ethnic differences in vaccination coverage 4567.

To reduce missed opportunities for vaccination, providers and provider organizations are encouraged to increase awareness and use of tools for implementing the Standards for Adult Immunization Practice. In addition, CDC encourages healthcare providers to consider immunization quality improvement projects that implement measurable increases in adult immunization rates.

Data Source and Methods

NHIS collects information about the health and health care of the noninstitutionalized U.S. civilian population using nationally representative samples. Face-to-face interviews are conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. Non-institutionalized adults 19 years and older with interviews conducted during January–December 2015 were included in this analysis. The total adult sample was 33,348 persons aged ≥19 years. NHIS methods have been previously published. Questions about receipt of vaccinations recommended for adults are asked of one randomly selected adult within each family in the household and have been described previously4. Weighted data were used to produce national vaccination coverage estimates. The weighted proportion of respondents who reported receiving selected vaccinations was calculated. Point estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by using statistical software to account for the complex sample design. T tests were used for comparisons between 2015 and 2014, and for comparisons of each level of each characteristic (e.g., race/ethnicity) to a chosen referent level (e.g., for race/ethnicity, non-Hispanic white was the reference group). Statistical significance was defined as p<0.05. Coverage estimates are not reported for small sample size (n<30) or relative standard error (standard error/estimates) >0.3.

Limitations

  • All data rely on self-report and were not validated with medical records. However, adult self-reported vaccination status has been shown to be ≥70% sensitive in one or more studies for pneumococcal, tetanus toxoid-containing, herpes zoster, and hepatitis B vaccines and ≥70% specific in one or more studies for all except tetanus and hepatitis B vaccination 891011.
  • The response rate was 55.2%. Nonresponse bias can result if respondents and nonrespondents differ in their vaccination rates, and if survey weighting does not fully correct for this.
  • The NHIS excluded persons in the military and those residing in institutions, which might result in underestimation or overestimation of vaccination coverage levels.
  • The Tdap estimate is subject to considerable uncertainty. Respondents who reported a tetanus vaccination but were unable to say whether Td or Tdap was used during 2005–2015 were excluded from estimations of Tdap coverage, creating a potential for bias.
  • NHIS survey data methods and limitations

Authors

Walter W. Williams, MD, MPH, Peng-Jun Lu, MD, PhD, Alissa O’Halloran, MSPH, David K. Kim, MD, Lisa A. Grosskopf, MD, Tami H. Skoff, MS, Noele P. Nelson, MD, PhD, Rafael Harpaz, MD, Lauri E. Markowitz, MD, Alfonso Rodriguez-Lainz, PhD, DVM, Amy Parker Fiebelkorn, MSN, MPH, and Carolyn B. Bridges, MD

Immunization Services Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC; Leidos, Inc, Atlanta, GA; Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC; Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC; Division of Viral Hepatitis, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC; Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC; Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, CDC

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Content Source:
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
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  • * Adults were considered at increased risk for pneumococcal disease if they had ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that they had diabetes, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease, angina, heart attack, or other heart condition; had a diagnosis of cancer during the previous 12 months (excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer); had ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that they had lymphoma, leukemia, or blood cancer; had been told by a doctor or other health professional that they had chronic bronchitis or weak or failing kidneys during the preceding 12 months; had an asthma episode or attack during the preceding 12 months; or were current smokers. For hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccination, data were collected on selected respondent characteristics that increase the risk for infection (travel to countries where hepatitis A infections are endemic and having chronic liver disease; having diabetes, travel to countries where hepatitis B infections are endemic, and having chronic liver disease, respectively).
  • † Race/ethnicity was categorized as follows: Hispanic, black, white, Asian and “other.” In this report, persons identified as Hispanic might be of any race. Persons identified as black, white, Asian, or other race are non-Hispanic. “Other” includes American Indian/Alaska Native and persons who identified multiple races. The five racial/ethnic categories are mutually exclusive.
  • § Respondents were asked if they had ever had a pneumonia shot.
  • ¶ p<0.05 by t test for comparisons between 2015 and 2014 within each level of each characteristic.
  • ** p<0.05 by t test for comparisons with non-Hispanic white as the reference.
  • †† Respondents were asked if they had received a tetanus shot in the past 10 years. Vaccinated respondents included adults who received Td during the past 10 years or Tdap during 2005–2015.
  • §§ Respondents who had received a tetanus shot in the past 10 years were asked if their most recent shot was given in 2005 or later. Respondents who had received a tetanus shot since 2005 were asked if they were told that their most recent tetanus shot included the pertussis or whooping cough vaccine. Among 33,348 respondents aged ≥19 yrs, those without a “yes” or “no” classification for tetanus vaccination status within the preceding 10 years (n = 1,907 [5.7%]), for tetanus vaccination status during 2005–2015 (n = 591 [1.7%]), or those who reported tetanus vaccination during 2005–2015, but were not told vaccine type by the provider (n = 8,408 [25.2%]), did not know vaccine type (Td or Tdap) (n = 2,031 [6.1%]), or refused to answer or for whom data were not obtained (n=5 [0.01%]) were excluded, yielding a sample of 20,406 respondents aged ≥19 years for whom Tdap vaccination status could be assessed. In February 2012, ACIP recommended Tdap vaccination for all adults aged ≥19 years, including adults aged ≥65 years.
  • ¶¶ Estimate is not reliable due to small sample size (n<30) or relative standard error (standard error/estimates) >0.3.
  • *** Respondents were asked if they had ever received the hepatitis A vaccine, and if yes, were asked how many doses were received.
  • ††† Had traveled outside the United States to countries other than countries in Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada since 1995.
  • §§§ Had not traveled outside the United States to countries other than countries in Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada since 1995.
  • ¶¶¶ p<0.05 by t test for comparisons between persons who had traveled outside the United States to countries other than countries in Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada since 1995 and persons who had not traveled outside the United States to these areas since 1995.
  • **** Respondents were asked if they had ever received the hepatitis B vaccine, and if yes, if they had received at least 3 doses or less than 3 doses.
  • †††† Respondents were asked if they had ever received a shingles vaccine.
  • §§§§ Respondents were asked if they had ever received the HPV shot or cervical cancer vaccine.