Influenza vaccination coverage among health care personnel in acute care hospitals was 80.7% compared with 15.3% for COVID-19 vaccination during the 2023 to 2024 respiratory virus season, according to a recent study.
Investigators analyzed vaccination coverage against influenza and COVID-19 infections among health care personnel (HCP) in acute care hospitals and nursing homes across the United States during the 2023 to 2024 respiratory virus season. The analysis, published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, assessed data from October 2023 to March 2024, highlighting vaccination rates and disparities between facility types and staff categories.
Data were collected from 4,114 acute care hospitals and 14,294 nursing homes using NHSN protocols. Influenza vaccination coverage among hospital HCP was 80.7%, with the highest rates among students, trainees, and volunteers (80.9%) and the lowest among licensed independent practitioners (65.7%). Coverage was geographically variable, highest in the Mountain region (84.5%) and lowest in the Pacific region (74.3%). Nursing homes reported overall influenza vaccination coverage of 45.4%, with similar disparities: students, trainees, and volunteers had the highest rates (58.1%) and employees had the lowest rates (44.5%). Regional differences were observed, with the Northeast showing the highest coverage (58.6%) and the South showing the lowest (38.1%).
COVID-19 vaccination rates were significantly lower compared with influenza vaccination rates. Among hospital HCP, 15.3% were vaccinated against COVID-19 infections, with coverage highest in urban areas (15.6%) and high social vulnerability index locations (19.9%). Licensed independent practitioners had the lowest hospital vaccination rates at 12.7%. In nursing homes, COVID-19 vaccination coverage was 10.5%, with the Pacific region reporting the highest rate (14.2%) and the South reporting the lowest rate (8.6%).
The researchers observed that the decline in COVID-19 vaccination rates coincided with the expiration of federal mandates and the commercialization of vaccines; these changes could have influenced the availability of vaccination programs and access to COVID-19 vaccines at health care facilities. They highlighted potential strategies such as targeted education and on-site vaccination programs to address barriers and improve vaccination rates among health care personnel, thereby supporting workforce health and reducing exposure to respiratory viral diseases.
Full disclosures can be found in the published study.