Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Health Care Personnel — United States, 2017–18 Influenza Season

• DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6738a2
• Publication Date: 2018-09-27T14:26:44Z
• Authors: Carla L. Black; Xin Yue; Sarah W. Ball; Rebecca V. Fink; Marie A. de Perio; A. Scott Laney; Walter W. Williams; Samuel B. Graitcer; Amy Parker Fiebel...; Peng-Jun Lu; Rebecca Devlin
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Influenza Vaccines; Health Personnel; Influenza, Human; Vaccination; Humans; Full Report; Seasons; United States; 3. Good health

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that all health care personnel receive an annual influenza vaccination to reduce influenza-related morbidity and mortality among health care personnel and their patients and to reduce absenteeism among health care personnel (1-4). CDC conducted an opt-in Internet panel survey of 2,265 U.S. health care personnel to estimate influenza vaccination coverage among these persons during the 2017-18 influenza season. Overall, 78.4% of health care personnel reported receiving influenza vaccination during the 2017-18 season, similar to reported coverage in the previous four influenza seasons (5). As in previous seasons, coverage was highest among personnel who were required by their employer to be vaccinated (94.8%) and lowest among those working in settings where vaccination was not required, promoted, or offered on-site (47.6%). Health care personnel working in long-term care settings, the majority of whom work as assistants or aides, have lower influenza vaccination coverage than do health care personnel working in all other health care settings, which puts the elderly in long-term settings at increased risk for severe complications for influenza. Implementing workplace strategies shown to improve vaccination coverage among health care personnel, including vaccination requirements and active promotion of on-site vaccinations at no cost, can help ensure health care personnel and patients are protected against influenza (6). CDC's long-term care web-based toolkit* provides resources, strategies, and educational materials for increasing influenza vaccination among health care personnel in long-term care settings.