AARP Public Policy Institute Releases Issues Report on Racial, Ethnic Disparities in Medicare Beneficiaries’ Immunizations

"Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Influenza and Pneumococcal Immunization Rates Among Medicare Beneficiaries" (.pdf), AARP Public Policy Institute: The issues report discusses factors that might contribute to black and Hispanic Medicare beneficiaries' access to immunizations. The report presents data on racial and ethnic immunization disparities that indicate black and Hispanic Medicare beneficiaries have lower inoculation rates for pneumonia and influenza, despite Medicare's coverage of such immunizations. The report also examines current Medicare immunization coverage policies and makes recommendations on how governments can address the disparities (Flowers et al., AARP Public Policy Institute, October 2008).