Issuance of Patient Reminders for Influenza Vaccination by US-Based Primary Care Physicians During the First Year of Universal Influenza Vaccination Recommendations

To estimate the number of physician-reported influenza vaccination reminders during the 20102011 influenza season, the first influenza season after universal vaccination recommendations for influenza were introduced, we interviewed 493 members of the Physicians Consulting Network. Patient vaccination reminders are a highly effective means of increasing influenza vaccination; nonetheless, only one quarter of the primary care physicians interviewed issued influenza vaccination reminders during the first year of universal vaccination recommendations, highlighting the need to improve office-based promotion of influenza vaccination.