Update: Rural/Urban Disparities in Pneumococcal Vaccine Service Delivery Among the Fee-for-Service Medicare Population, 2012-2015

Overview of Key Findings

Between 2014 and 2015, the number of pneumococcal vaccine services delivered to fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries increased by 380% as a result of uptake of PCV13 vaccine.Continued disparities in delivery of pneumococcal vaccine services to FFS Medicare beneficiaries in rural and urban communities are noted, with a 63% higher vaccination rate observed in urban areas.The majority of pneumococcal vaccine services delivered to FFS Medicare beneficiaries were provided by primary care providers, although pharmacy providers delivered close to one-fourth (24.2%) of these services.Pharmacy providers in rural communities play an increasing role in pneumococcal vaccine service delivery, providing one-third (33.5%) of vaccines in 2015.