Only 52% of Long-Term Care Staff Vaccinated against Flu in 2011-2012

​Flu vaccination coverage was 52.4% among healthcare personnel working in long-term care facilities during the 2011-2012 flu season—lower than the 64.4% coverage observed in long-term care facilities in 2010-2011, reports an article published in the September 28, 2012, issue of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. According to the article, CDC conducted an online panel survey of 2,348 healthcare personnel (defined as people who work in a medical care setting or whose work involves hands-on care of patients or residents) to gather vaccination data for the 2011-2012 season. By comparison, 76.9% of those working in hospitals and 67.7% of those in working in physician offices were vaccinated. In long-term care, 72.2% of nurses were vaccinated, but only 50.2% of other nonphysician staff were vaccinated.