6 Residents who are cared for in post-acute and long-term care (PALTC) facilities are increased risk for exposure to influenza and more likely to have co-morbidities that increase vulnerability to poor outcome following infection. Even though that seems low, it is still our best way to prevent influenza and its complications.
This means the vaccine reduced a person’s risk of having to seek medical care by 40% in 2018, the CDC found. 5 The effectiveness of the influenza vaccine can vary widely from 19% to 60% over the past ten years ( Table 2). 5 Nonetheless, there were still 600,000 hospitalizations for influenza infections that year and most of those hospitalized were geriatric patients. 2– 4 For the 2016–2017 influenza season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates, influenza vaccination prevented over 5 million illnesses and prevented nearly 85,000 hospitalizations. Geriatric adults, those ≥ 65 years old, are the most vulnerable to severe infection and account for up to 85% of these deaths. Influenza has been linked to 12,000 to 56,000 deaths in the United States alone each year. 1 Here, we discuss the importance of influenza vaccination for HCP, detail recommendations for influenza vaccination practice and procedures for PALTC settings, and offer support to PALTC settings and their staff on influenza vaccinations. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that all HCP receive an annual influenza vaccination, including those who do not have direct patient care responsibilities. PALTC HCP have the lowest influenza vaccination rate when compared to HCP in other settings. Annually vaccinating health care personnel (HCP) working with these vulnerable patients against influenza is critical to reducing influenza morbidity and mortality among patients. Older adults account for more than 70% of deaths from influenza, a reflection of decreased vaccine effectiveness in that age group. Preventing influenza infections is a national health priority, particularly among vulnerable geriatric and frail adults who reside in post-acute and long-term care (PALTC) settings.