A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the flu vaccine rate among health care personnel was 72.0% during the 2012-2013 flu season, up from 66.9% during the 2011-2012 season and 63.5% during the 2010-2011 season. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that all health care personnel receive flu vaccinations annually.
Flu vaccination rates among certain health care occupations were much higher than the average for all health care workers. These include physicians (92.3%), pharmacists (89.1%), nurse practitioners/physician assistants (88.5%), and nurses (84.8%). The vaccination rate among nonclinical personnel was 64.8%.
Among occupational setting, vaccination rates were highest for health care workers at hospitals (83.1%). The rate at ambulatory care or physician offices was 72.9%, the rate at long-term care facilities was 58.9%, and the rate at other clinical settings was 73.2%.
Among other things, the report also shows that vaccination rates were higher for workers whose employers offer free on-site vaccinations for one (75.7%) or multiple days (86.2%) than for those who do not (55.3%).
