Flu vaccination rates among healthcare workers stagnant over last few years

The rate of influenza vaccine adherence among healthcare personnel has remained relatively static over the last few flu seasons, according to the CDC's most recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

For the report, CDC researchers conducted an internet panel survey of 2,438 employees working in hospitals, ambulatory care settings and long-term care facilities.

Among all survey respondents, 78.6 percent reported receiving a flu shot during the 2016-2017 flu season. While this rate marks a 15 percentage point increase from the 2010-2011 flu season, it is comparable to vaccine coverage reported by healthcare workers for the last three flu seasons. For the 2015-2016 flu season, the estimated rate of flu vaccine coverage among providers was 79 percent.

Respondents employed at facilities with vaccination requirements reported a 96.7 percent rate of flu shot adherence. In settings where vaccination was not required, promoted or offered on-site, 45.8 percent of respondents reported flu vaccine coverage.

"The highest influenza vaccination coverage among [providers] continues to be reported in worksites with employer requirements for vaccination," wrote the report authors. "In the absence of vaccination requirements, the findings in this study support the recommendations found in the Guide to Community Preventive Services, which include active promotion of on-site vaccination at no cost or low cost to increase influenza vaccination coverage among [providers]."

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends all healthcare personnel receive annual flu vaccinations to reduce the burden of flu morbidity and death in the healthcare setting.

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