OBJECTIVES:  Adult vaccine-preventable diseases in the US are a major healthcare burden and vaccination is an important strategy to protect individuals, in particular those at higher risk of complications, from infectious diseases. Over the past several years, new adult vaccines along with changes in adult-vaccination guidelines have increased the number of vaccines recommended for adults. Adult vaccination rates in the US are measured by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention using the National Health Interview Survey, however, there is no study examining adult vaccination trends among the US insured population METHODS:  Using commercial and Medicare Advantage with Part D (MAPD) data (2009-2015) for individuals aged ≥19 from the Optum Research Database, claims for pneumococcal vaccine (PPV and PCV), herpes zoster (HZ), tetanus/diphtheria booster (Td) and tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap) were captured. The denominator was the average number of members enrolled annually. Vaccinations were examined over time by age group and insurance type (commercial or MAPD).

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RESULTS:  : From 2009 to 2015, per-member PPV use was low (1.3%-1.5%), Td use decreased (1.2%-0.5%); and HZ use increased (0.6%-1.1%). Increases were larger for Tdap (3.7%-5.6%) and PCV (3.8%-8.4%). As expected, PCV use varied by age-while low (≤1.2%) among members aged 19-59; use increased 241-, 770- and 2183-fold among members aged 60-64, 65-69, and 70+, respectively, driven predominantly by use of PCV13. By 2015, 3.3%, 26.1% and 34.9% of annual membership aged 60-64, 65-69, and 70+, respectively, received a PCV13 vaccine.

CONCLUSIONS:  Consistent with recent market and guideline changes, PCV13 use increased significantly among insured patients in 2015, and Tdap vaccine use is also increasing moderately over time. Use of other adult vaccines remains relatively stable, highlighting the need for additional strategies to promote adult vaccination.