CDC Reports on HCW Flu Vaccination

The CDC, in its April 2, 2010 issue of MMWR, updates us on the uptake by healthcare providers of the influenza vaccine.

The CDC reports, “Since 1989, overall influenza vaccination coverage among healthcare personnel (HCP) has never exceeded 49 percent in any season, according to estimates from the National Health Interview Survey. In August 2009, ACIP recommended that HCP be one of five initial target groups to receive the influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine when it first became available. This report summarizes results of a population-based panel survey administered via the Internet during January 2010 to a nationally representative sample of 1,417 HCP to assess vaccination coverage. By mid-January 2010, estimated vaccination coverage among HCP was 37.1 percent for 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) and 61.9 percent for seasonal influenza. Overall, 64.3 percent received either of these influenza vaccines, higher coverage than any previous season, but only 34.7 percent of HCP reported receiving both vaccines.”