QIM 4: Proportion of regular clients aged 65 years and over with an influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record within the previous 15 months
Overview
Influenza is a common disease of the respiratory tract. It affects people of all ages. It is estimated that influenza is likely to be associated with more than 3,000 deaths and 13,500 hospitalisations each year in Australia, just in people aged >50 years (NCIRS 2021).
A number of groups are at a higher risk of influenza and its complications. These groups experience higher rates of illness and death associated with influenza than the rest of the population and adults aged ≥65 years is one of the vulnerable population groups. Therefore, annual influenza vaccination is strongly recommended for those aged ≥65 years (ATAGI 2023). The administration of the influenza vaccine to people at risk of complications of infection is the single most important measure in preventing or attenuating influenza infection and preventing mortality. There is evidence that influenza vaccination reduces hospitalisations from influenza and pneumonia and all-cause mortality in adults aged ≥65 years of age (ATAGI 2023). While best practice guidelines recommend annual immunisation, a 15-month interval allows for cases when a client decides to receive a vaccine earlier than recommended (for example, from a pharmacy), or delay and wait for the release of an ‘enhanced’ vaccine (Department of Health 2020b).
Capture of results recorded outside of the general practice setting
Results arising from clinical intervention conducted outside of the service that are known and recorded by the practice are included in the measure. Where immunisation was provided elsewhere but is not known to the practice, this is not captured in the report. For example, this might be where the vaccination providers’ information systems may not be compatible with the clinical information system (CISs) of the client’s usual general practice.
Other sources of relevant data
There are other administrative data collections where the data on influenza immunisation are captured, for example, the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
This indicator reports on the proportion of regular clients aged 65 years and over who had an influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record within the previous 15 months.
The QIM proportions summarised by the different extraction tools in use are also shown in the ‘Regional proportions’ bar charts for this measure. This illustrates the differences in how software providers have interpreted the technical specifications and coding of QIMs.
QIM 4: Regional proportions
As of July 2023, nationally, 59.0% of regular clients aged 65 years and over had an influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record in the previous 15 months. This varied from 39.9% to 68.9% across PHNs, and between 57.7% and 62.9% across extraction tools.
Figure 35: Proportion of regular clients aged 65 years and over with an influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record within the previous 15 months, by PHN, or extraction tool (ET), July 2023
This bar chart shows the proportion of regular clients aged 65 years and over with influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record within the previous 15 months, by PHN and extraction tool, for July 2023.
QIM 4: National proportions over time
Nationally, between January 2023 and July 2023, there was an increase of 7.2 percentage points for regular clients aged 65 years and over who had an influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record within the previous 15 months, from 51.8% to 59.0%. This increase is due to seasonal factors and is consistent with observations in the 2021-22 national report.
Figure 36: Proportion of regular clients aged 65 years and over with an influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record within the previous 15 months, January 2023 to July 2023
This line chart shows the proportion of regular clients aged 65 years and over with influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record within the previous 15 months, from January 2023 to July 2023.
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QIM 4: National proportions by sex
As of July 2023, nationally, the proportion of regular clients aged 65 years and over with an influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record within the previous 15 months was 59.8% for females and 58.0% for males.
Figure 37: Proportion of regular clients aged 65 years and over with an influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record within the previous 15 months, by sex, July 2023
This bar chart shows the proportion of regular clients aged 65 years and over with influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record within the previous 15 months, by sex for July 2023.
- Data for clients aged 65 and over are included if the client has been immunised against influenza within the previous 15 months.
- Results arising from clinical intervention conducted outside of the service that are known and recorded by the service are included in the measure. Where immunisation was given elsewhere (for example, workplace or pharmacy) and the information is not recorded in the electronic record of the client’s usual general practice, then this may result in an apparent missing information.
- Clients are excluded from the measure if they:
- did not have the immunisation due to documented medical reasons (e.g. allergy), system reasons (vaccine not available), or client reasons (e.g. refusal); or
- had results from measurements conducted outside of the service which were not available to the service.
- There are other administrative data collections where the data on influenza immunisation are captured for example, the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
ATAGI (Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation) (2023) Australian Immunisation Handbook, Department of Health, Canberra, accessed 10 July 2023.
Department of Health (2020b) Practice Incentives Program Quality Improvement Measures User Guide for Primary Health Networks, Department of Health, Canberra, accessed 6 July 2023.
NCIRS (National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance) (2021) Influenza vaccines for Australians - Fact Sheet, NCIRS, Sydney, accessed 12 July 2023.