OBJECTIVETo investigate the differences in free influenza vaccination rate among different family structures of the elderly population in Beijing under the free vaccination policy.

METHODSA cross sectional study was conducted by a multi-stage cluster sampling from July to August in 2013. A total of 1 717 individuals were selected to answer a self-designed questionnaire of demographic characteristics and basic information about receiving free influenza vaccination and 1 637 of which were valid. The chi-square test for dichotomous variables was calculated to examine the relationship between vaccine status and family characteristics. Predictor variables were selected as variables for non-conditional logistic regression model to determine potential independent predictors of vaccine uptake.

RESULTSThe free influenza vaccination rate in elderly population was 38.8% (634/1 637) in 2013. The rate in the old people who lived alone was the highest which was 47.5% (58/122). The rate in the old people who lived with children and spouse was 34.6% (175/506). There was a significant difference in coverage rate among different family structures (χ(2)=11.57, P=0.009). The rate in the old people who lived with spouse only, lived with children only and other types were 41.5% (322/778) , 34.7% (69/201), and 33.3% (10/30), respectively. In a multi-factor model, there was a significant difference in vaccination rate among different family structures after other confounding factors were controlled. The odds ratios (95% CI) of the people living with spouse only, people living with children only and people living with spouse and children were 0.90 (0.60-1.33) , 0.59 (0.37-0.96) , and 0.63 (0.42-0.96), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe vaccination rate in the old people living alone was low. The health education should be conducted not only in the elderly people but also in their family members.