Declines in Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Health Care Personnel in Acute Care Hospitals During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, 2017–2023
Hoody Lymon, Lu Meng, Hannah E. Reses, Kira Barbre, Heather Dubendris, Shanjeeda Shafi, Ryan E. Wiegand, Gnanendra Reddy Tugu Yagama Reddy, Austin Woods, David T. Kuhar, Matthew J. Stuckey, Megan C. Lindley, Lori Haas, Iram Qureshi, Emily Wong, Andrea L. Benin, Jeneita M. Bell
Abstract
Health care personnel (HCP) are recommended to receive annual vaccination against influenza to reduce influenza-related morbidity and mortality. Every year, acute care hospitals report receipt of influenza vaccination among HCP to CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). This analysis used NHSN data to describe changes in influenza vaccination coverage among HCP in acute care hospitals before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Influenza vaccination among HCP increased during the prepandemic period from 88.6% during 2017-18 to 90.7% during 2019-20. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the percentage of HCP vaccinated against influenza decreased to 85.9% in 2020-21 and 81.1% in 2022-23. Additional efforts are needed to implement evidence-based strategies to increase vaccination coverage among HCP and to identify factors associated with recent declines in influenza vaccination coverage.