Black and Latino seniors less likely to get flu shots than whites, study shows

Black and Latino seniors are less likely than whites to get the flu shot - even though they're at higher risk for chronic diseases that make the vaccine crucial, a new report says.

"We're concerned that not only don't seniors get enough flu shots, but there seems to be ethnic and racial disparities," said Dr. Norman Edelman, chief medical officer for the American Lung Association.

In New York City, 35% of blacks and 38% of Latinos age 50 and older got the shot in 2009, compared with 49% of whites, the Health Department reported.