Changes to IPUMS NHIS Flu Vaccine Variable

In reviewing the modified 2016 flu vaccine variables for sample adults, IPUMS NHIS staff discovered that the sample child variables had undergone a similar modification in 2011 without thorough documentation by IPUMS NHIS. While older versions of flu vaccine variables asked about flu shot vaccination and flu spray vaccinations separately, later years ask about flu vaccinations generally with a follow up question about the mode of vaccination. As such, all flu vaccine variables have been revised. This includes renaming variables for consistency and clearer indication of what mode of flu vaccination they report, as well as using special programming to extend availability of variables that are no longer offered on the public use NCHS files, or replicating the newer versions of these variables in older sample years.

Deleted Variable Deleted Variable Description New Variable Differences in New Variable
Variables with special programming to add sample children after August 10, 2010 and sample adults beginning in 2016
SHOTFLUYR Had flu SHOT vaccination, past 12 months VACFLUSH12M The new variable VACFLUSH12M includes all values from the previous variable SHOTFLUYR, and applies special programming to add in sample children records for August 10, 2010-forward, and sample adult records for 2016.
SHOTFLUYRMO Month of most recent flu SHOT vaccination VACFLUSHMO VACFLUSHMO replicates information for sample adults in 2005-2015, and for sample children in 2005 through August 10, 2010 of the 2010 sample. SHOTFLUYRMO erroneously included sample child information from August 11, 2010 onward; these responses were for generic flu vaccine responses instead of flu SHOT specific responses. Sample adult responses in 2016 and sample child responses for August 11, 2010-forward were added by IPUMS NHIS staff using special programming.
SHOTFLUAGOYR Year of most recent flu SHOT vaccination VACFLUSHYR The new variable VACFLUSHYR replicates information for sample adults in 2005-2015, and for sample children in 2005 through August 10, 2010 of the 2010 sample. SHOTFLUYRYR erroneously included sample child information from August 11, 2010 onward; these responses were for generic flu vaccine responses instead of flu SHOT specific responses. Sample adult responses in 2016 and sample child responses for August 11, 2010-forward were added by IPUMS NHIS staff using special programming.
SRPAYFLUYR Had flu nasal SPRAY vaccination, past 12 months VACFLUSPR12M The new variable VACFLUSPR12M replicates information for sample adults in 2005-2015, and for sample children in 2005 through August 10, 2010 of the 2010 sample. Sample adult responses in 2016 and sample child responses for August 11, 2010-forward were added by IPUMS NHIS staff using special programming.
SRPAYFLUYRMO Month of most recent flu nasal SPRAY vaccination VACFLUSPRMO The new variable VACFLUSPRMO replicates information for sample adults in 2005-2015, and for sample children in 2005 through August 10, 2010 of the 2010 sample. Sample adult responses in 2016 and sample child responses for August 11, 2010-forward were added by IPUMS NHIS staff using special programming.
SRPAYFLUYR Year of most recent flu nasal SPRAY vaccination VACFLUSPR12M The new variable VACFLUSPRYR replicates information for sample adults in 2005-2015, and for sample children in 2005 through August 10, 2010 of the 2010 sample. Sample adult responses in 2016 and sample child responses for August 11, 2010-forward were added by IPUMS NHIS staff using special programming.
Variables with special programming to add sample children from 2005 through August 10, 2010 and sample adults in 2005-2015
VACFLUYR Had flu vaccination, past 12 months VACFLU12M The new variable VACFLU12M includes all values from the previous variable VACFLUYR, but includes the NCHS-provided values for sample adults in 2016, and applies special programming to add in sample children records for 2005 through August 10, 2010 and sample adult records for 2005-2015.
VACFLUYRMO Month of most recent flu vaccination VACFLUMO The new variable VACFLUMO includes all values from the previous variable VACFLUYRMO, but includes the NCHS-provided values for sample adults in 2016, and applies special programming to add in sample children records for 2005 through August 10, 2010 and sample adult records for 2005-2015.
VACFLUAGOYR Year of most recent flu vaccination VACFLUYR The new variable VACFLUYR (not be confused with a since removed variable by the same name) includes all values from the previous variable VACFLUAGOYR, but includes the NCHS-provided values for sample adults in 2016, and applies special programming to add in sample children records for 2005 through August 10, 2010 and sample adult records for 2005-2015.
VACFLUMODE Mode of administration for most recent flu vaccination VACFLUMODE VACFLUMODE was not deleted; however, it has been updated to include the NCHS-provided values for sample adults in 2016, and applies special programming to add in sample children records for 2005 through August 10, 2010 and sample adult records for 2005-2015.
Variables that have been renamed and include additional detail in variable descriptions
VACFLUYRNO Number of flu vaccinations, past 12 months VACFLUNUM This variable has not changed other than the inclusion of 2016 data and additional detail on the 2010 sample.
VAC2FLUYRMO Month of second most recent flu vaccination VAC2FLUMO This variable has not changed other than the inclusion of 2016 data and additional detail on the 2010 sample.
VAC2FLUAGOYR Year of second most recent flu vaccination VAC2FLUYR This variable has not changed other than the inclusion of 2016 data and additional detail on the 2010 sample.
VAC2FLUMODE Mode of administration for second most recent flu vaccination VAC2FLUMODE VAC2FLUMODE was not deleted; it has not changed other than the inclusion of 2016 data and additional detail on the 2010 sample.
Old variables duplicating information available elsewhere
VACFLUSHYR Had flu SHOT vaccination, past 12 months VACFLUSH12M The old variable VACFLUSHYR replicated information that was available elsewhere (now deleted SHOTFLUYR), but with fewer sample years of coverage. VACFLUSH12M is an appropriate substitute with broader sample coverage.
VACFLUSHCMO Month of most recent flu SHOT vaccination VACFLUSHMO The old variable VACFLUSHCMO replicated information that was available elsewhere (now deleted SHOTFLUYRMO), but with fewer sample years of coverage. VACFLUSHMO is an appropriate substitute with broader sample coverage.
VACFLUSHCYR Year of most recent flu SHOT vaccination VACFLUSPRYR The old variable VACFLUSHCYR replicated information that was available elsewhere (now deleted SHOTFLUAGOYR), but with fewer sample years of coverage. VACFLUSHYR is an appropriate substitute with broader sample coverage.
VACFLUSPYR Had flu nasal SPRAY vaccination, past 12 months VACFLUSPR12M The old variable VACFLUSPYR replicated information that was available elsewhere (now deleted SPRAYFLUYR), but with fewer sample years of coverage. VACFLUSPR12M is an appropriate substitute with broader sample coverage.
VACFLUSPCMO Month of most recent flu nasal SPRAY vaccination VACFLUSPRMO The old variable VACFLUSPCMO replicated information that was available elsewhere (now deleted SRPAYFLUYRMO), but with fewer sample years of coverage. VACFLUSPRMO is an appropriate substitute with broader sample coverage.
VACFLUSPCYR Year of most recent flu nasal SPRAY vaccination VACFLUSPYR The old variable VACFLUSPCYR replicated information that was available elsewhere (now deleted SPRAFLUAGOYR), but with fewer sample years of coverage. VACFLUSPRYR is an appropriate substitute with broader sample coverage.