Immunization survey of non-institutionalized adults--Quebec (as of May 30, 1996).

Immunization is considered the most effective and least cost way of preventing certain infectious diseases, and the complications and deaths that result from them. For a number o years experts have stressed the importance of vaccinating adul well as children, e.g. booster shots for diphtheria and tetanus ev 10 years; annual influenza vaccination for persons ≥ 65 years, and persons at risk for influenza-related complications; pneumococc vaccination for persons ≥ 65 years, and persons at risk for complications; and hepatitis B vaccination for members of risk groups. However, in Canada and the rest of the world, the foc has been mainly on the management and evaluation of immunization programs for children. There have been few studi on the immunization of non-institutionalized adults, and the exte of public awareness of recommendations for adult vaccination a their administration is not known. There are, however, good indications that adult vaccination has not been as successful as child vaccination. Further information and better knowledge of the situation are needed to determine what promotional activi and programs should be established.