Flu and COVID vaccine uptake among healthcare personnel (HCP) remained similar or improved over the previous year’s uptake, according to a report in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. CIDRAP has the news.
A survey conducted in spring 2025 showed that an “estimated 76.3% of HCP reported receiving a flu vaccine,” compared to 75.4% for the 2023-24 season. Coverage ranges from 78.4% to 80.6% since the 2015-16 season. 40.2% of HCP reported receiving the 2024-25 COVID vaccine, which was up from 31.3% in 2023-24.
Flu vaccination rates were highest “among pharmacists (94.6%), physicians (92.6%), and hospital-based workers (88.3%), while lower rates were observed among assistants and aides (69.0%) and those working in long-term care settings (70.5%).” Workplace policies were also strongly associated with vaccination uptake. Among “HCP whose employers required flu vaccination, coverage reached 97.3%, compared with 73.9% for those whose employers recommended but didn’t require the vaccine and 42.6% among those whose employers neither required nor recommended the vaccine.”
The authors concluded that a “multipronged approach, including educating HCP about vaccination recommendations, coupled with employer vaccination requirements, recommendations, or on-site offer for vaccinations, might increase influenza and COVID-19 vaccination coverage.”
