CDC: Hospitals lead other settings in worker flu vaccinations

An estimated 90% of hospital workers report receiving a flu vaccine for the 2014-15 flu season, about the same as in 2013-14, according to a survey released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coverage for health care workers in all settings was 77%, up from 75% in 2012-13. Hospitals achieved a higher vaccination rate than ambulatory (78%) and long-term care settings (64%). Coverage was 97% among workers in hospitals requiring vaccination, compared with 87% in those that did not require but offered free on-site vaccination to employees for more than one day. To protect the lives and welfare of patients and hospital employees, the AHA supports mandatory patient safety policies that require either flu vaccination or wearing a mask in the presence of patients across health care settings during flu season. The CDC recommends, with rare exception, annual flu vaccination for everyone six months or older, especially children under 5, adults 50 or older, pregnant women and others at high risk for serious complications. Only half of women were vaccinated before or during pregnancy last flu season, the agency said.