A new study published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report found that only 15.3% of workers in 4,112 acute care hospitals got COVID-19 boosters in the 2023-2024 respiratory virus season, with rates lowest among licensed independent practitioners. Vaccination coverage was 10.5% overall among workers in more than 14,000 nursing homes.
Meanwhile, influenza flu vaccination rates for approximately 8.8 million health care personnel working in 4,114 acute care hospitals for the same period were 80.7%.
Among approximately 2.1 million health care personnel working in 14,294 nursing homes, influenza vaccination coverage was 45.4% overall; coverage was highest among students/trainees and volunteers (58.1%) and was lowest among employees (44.5%).
Low Confidence in Safety and Benefit of COVID-19 Vaccines
In a separate CDC study published in October, health care workers were surveyed on their attitudes towards COVID-19 and influenza vaccines.
Most heath care workers agreed that they and those around them are at increased risk for getting influenza and COVID-19. Attitudes towards safety of an influenza vaccination and COVID-19 vaccination differed among the workers, with few agreeing that the COVID-19 vaccination was safe. Even fewer health care providers agreed that the COVID-19 vaccination could protect them from COVID-19 or that they should be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The authors note that providing vaccination at the worksite during work hours, coupled with employer communication about the favorable benefit-risk balance of COVID-19 vaccination could increase COVID-19 vaccine coverage, as seen in prior studies on influenza vaccination coverage.
“As waning immunity from prior COVID-19 vaccines have been observed, it remains important that health care workers stay up to date on all recommended COVID-19 vaccinations,” concludes the authors. “Remaining up to date with all COVID-19 and influenza recommended vaccinations is important for all HCP to prevent severe illness in themselves and to reduce the risk of exposing their patients to vaccine-preventable diseases.”