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.