What it measures
Dimension: Public Health
This indicator reports the percentage of individuals who received an influenza immunization, or flu shot, within the past year. A measure of the public health system’s ability to prevent disease is indicated by immunization rates.. Influenza is a preventable illness that is responsible for between 2,000 and 8,000 deaths in Canada each year, and 250,000 to 500,000 deaths worldwide (depending on severity).
Why this matters
It is estimated that influenza vaccines may reduce hospitalization by 25% to 39% and overall mortality by 39% to 75% in non-institutionalized elderly people, thus higher immunization rates are a stronger indicator of a healthy population.