In this week's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers say that as of Nov. 10, 2024, about 3 in 10 (30%) nursing home residents received a 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine. Among residents at facilities that elected to report, more than half (58%) of residents received a flu vaccine and about one in six (18%) received a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine. Compared with vaccination coverage among nursing home residents this time last respiratory virus season, this ongoing 2024-25 season’s COVID-19 vaccination (30% vs 24%) and flu vaccination coverage is lower (58% vs. 68%) than the prior respiratory virus season. Coverage with a one-time RSV vaccination increased from 7% at this time last year to 18% this season.
Nursing home residents are at risk of becoming infected with and getting very sick from flu, RSV, and COVID-19. Vaccination reduces the risk of severe illness and hospitalization from these vaccine-preventable diseases. Addressing low vaccination coverage is a priority to protect nursing home residents during the ongoing 2024–25 respiratory virus season. Investigators analyzed National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) vaccination data from U.S. nursing homes to assess current flu, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccination coverage among nursing home residents during the ongoing 2024-25 respiratory virus season.
Experts say nursing home leadership and healthcare personnel should provide recommended vaccines to residents and are encouraged to talk to residents and their loved ones about the effectiveness, safety, and benefits of vaccination. Coverage with all three vaccines was highest in small nursing homes, suggesting that leadership and other staff might be able to build trust with residents and families and reduce barriers to vaccination.
CDC experts manage NHSN, which monitors patient safety and collects and disseminates critical public health data to inform public health decisions. More than 38,000 U.S. healthcare facilities, including nearly all U.S. nursing homes, are enrolled in NHSN.
Source: CDC