Earlier availability of COVID-19 vaccines in 2024 compared to 2023 may have contributed to higher vaccination rates among healthcare workers, according to an April 2 CDC report.
Between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 respiratory seasons, the percentage of healthcare workers who reported receiving a COVID-19 vaccine increased from 31.3% to 40.2%, according to the CDC’s latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
The report also included flu vaccination rates among healthcare professionals, showing little change year over year: 76.3% during 2024-25 and 75.4% during 2023-24. The CDC’s vaccine advisory panel recommends all healthcare workers receive an annual flu vaccine, and in 2024, the panel extended the guidance to include COVID-19 vaccination.
In addition to the new recommendation, the 2024 COVID-19 vaccine became available in August — about one month earlier than it did in 2023, according to the report.
“Early availability of the vaccine might have given HCP [healthcare personnel] more exposure to workplace vaccination policies and campaigns and permitted them more time to receive a COVID-19 vaccine,” the researchers concluded. “Aligning COVID-19 vaccine delivery, communication and promotion with those for influenza vaccine has the potential to increase coverage with both vaccines during peak respiratory virus season.”
