The Massachusetts’ Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality, along with the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, tracked vaccination rates during last year’s flu season for staff at ambulatory care facilities, nursing and rest homes, dialysis centers and adult day health centers. The findings were published this December.
Day health programs providing services for disabled adults had the lowest employee vaccination rates, with only 61 percent of staff receiving the flu shot. Rest homes reported a 64 percent vaccination rate, while clinics were at 68 percent and nursing homes at 72 percent.
In response, state regulators are sending reminder letters to facilities that fell below 90 percent or didn’t report vaccination rates. The Department of Public Health will also provide certificates of commendation to facilities with rates 90 percent or higher that report efforts addressing factors that can impede vaccination.
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