Data Cart

Beginning in 2005, for those with an affirmative response in SPRAYFLUYR, interviewers also collected information on the month and year of both the most recent flu nasal spray (SPRAYFLUYRMO and SPRAFLUAGOYR). According to the Field Representative's Manual for 2005 forward, data collected on the month and year of the most recent flu nasal spray served as a check on the accuracy of the previous question about having a nasal flu vaccination in the past year. If the respondent reported a date prior to 12 months ago, the interviewer was to verify whether the date given was correct and, if so, to change the answer for SPRAYFLUYR from "yes" to "no."

As a parallel inquiry, the survey also included questions about whether persons had received a flu shot during the past 12 months (SHOTFLUYR) and, if so, the month and year of the most recent flu shot (SHOTFLUYRMO and SHOTFLUAGOYR).

The Manuals for 2005 forward state, "The purpose of the Child Flu Immunization supplemental questions are to determine the type of flu vaccines most commonly used, and when the majority of children get vaccinated." In both 2005 and 2006, the Manual described the inquiry into flu vaccination as "a major concern this year" due to shortages of flu shot supplies during the fall of 2004 and 2005. The 2007 Manual also described the flu shot questions as "a concern this year," in that case "because of delays in the delivery of the vaccines to health care providers."

The Codebook for 2004 stated, "The flu spray has a recommended age range of 5-49 years, but off-label use may occur for other ages. In 2004, unweighted estimates show that about one half of adults who received the flu spray were 50 years of age and over. The flu spray is usually not given in combination with the flu shot; however, about three-fourths of adults who received the flu shot also received the flu spray, possibly in the previous flu season."

According to the 2005 Manual, to deal with these issues:

These "edits," which were continued after 2005, led interviewers to verify that sample children and sample adults had indeed received both forms of vaccination, as reported, and that respondents age 50 and older had, in fact, received the nasal flu vaccine, as stated. Differences between 2004 and subsequent years in the share of persons age 50 or older who reported receiving the nasal flu vaccine, or in the number of persons reporting that they received both a flu shot and the nasal spray vaccine, may be due to the addition of these verification questions beginning in 2005.