Influenza vaccination protection amongst US well being care personnel (HCP) in the course of the 2024–25 respiratory virus season remained much like protection in the course of the 2023–24 season, whereas uptake of the COVID vaccine, although considerably improved from the prior yr, remained markedly decrease, in keeping with a report printed yesterday within the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Based mostly on a nationwide survey of two,650 HCP performed in spring 2025, an estimated 76.3% of HCP reported receiving a flu vaccine, in keeping with the CDC authors. That degree of protection is much like vaccine uptake in the course of the 2023–24 season (75.4%) and has remained comparatively steady for the reason that 2015–16 season. Protection for the reason that 2015–16 season ranges from 78.4% to 80.6%, with a median of 79.5%.
In distinction, 40.2% of HCP reported receiving the 2024–25 COVID vaccine, up from 31.3% in 2023–24.
Protection different by job, insurance policies, vaccination locale
Protection different by occupation and setting. Flu vaccination charges have been highest amongst pharmacists (94.6%), physicians (92.6%), and hospital-based employees (88.3%), whereas decrease charges have been noticed amongst assistants and aides (69.0%) and people working in long-term care settings (70.5%).
COVID-19 vaccination protection was highest amongst HCP with grasp’s, skilled, or doctoral levels (47.3%) and physicians, assistants, and aides (46.7%).
Office insurance policies have been strongly related to vaccination uptake. Amongst HCP whose employers required flu vaccination, protection reached 97.3%, in contrast with 73.9% for these whose employers really useful however didn’t require the vaccine and 42.6% amongst these whose employers neither required nor really useful the vaccine.
Comparable patterns have been noticed for COVID vaccination, with notably greater uptake in settings with employer necessities or the place on-site vaccination was obtainable.
Even when vaccination wasn’t required, providing vaccination on website was linked to greater protection. Flu and COVID vaccination charges have been 73.0% and 42.9%, respectively, amongst HCP whose employers provided vaccines on-site, in contrast with 41.4% and 19.8% amongst these with out on-site entry.
Flu, COVID substantial reason for absenteeism
The findings come because the flu and COVID proceed to be important causes of absenteeism amongst HCP, and an infection carries the danger of transmission to sufferers and coworkers, the authors word.
The authors conclude, “A multipronged method, together with educating HCP about vaccination suggestions, coupled with employer vaccination necessities, suggestions, or on-site provide for vaccinations, may enhance influenza and COVID-19 vaccination protection” throughout peak respiratory virus season.
