Flu shots are recommended annually for people 65 and older; or those who have chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, emphysema or asthma.

The Delaware Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) tracks two adult immunizations – flu and pneumonia. Respondents are asked if they had a flu shot in the past year, and if they have ever had a pneumonia shot. The pneumonia shot is usually given only once or twice in a lifetime, and is also called pneumococcal vaccine.

• Among the target audience of persons 65 and older, 71.5% have had a flu shot in the last 12 months.
• 34.4% of all Delaware adults age 18 and over have had a flu shot in the past year.
• White, non-Hispanic adults are more likely to get flu shots than African Americans. Among adults 65 and older, 73.7% of non-Hispanic whites had a flu shot in the past year, compared with only 57% of black adults in that age group.
• Asked in they had ever had a pneumonia vaccination, 20.5% of Delawareans age 18 and older said “yes.”
• Again, non-Hispanic whites were more likely to have had a pneumonia shot (22%) than non-Hispanic black (16.4%) or Hispanic adults (11.8%).

Source: Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 2002.