Healthcare Personnel Influenza Vaccination In South Carolina Hospitals, 2021-2022
Health care personnel (HCP) are at risk of transmitting influenza, also known as the flu, to their patients, co-workers, and families if they become infected. Benefits of receiving the annual influenza vaccination among HCP include lower risk of transmission to patients and family members and reduced time missed from work. In South Carolina, many hospitals require the influenza vaccination as a requirement for employment, furthering their commitment to the health of South Carolinians. This report presents data from 81 South Carolina hospitals for the 2021-2022 influenza season (Oct. 1, 2021, through March 31, 2022).
Overall, 81.95 percent of HCP in South Carolina received their influenza vaccination during the 2021-2022 influenza season. Fifty-four hospitals reported HCP vaccination rates greater than the state average (81.95 percent), while 27 reported rates below the average, and zero facilities reported rates equal to the average.
This vaccination rate is a significant decrease from the past four influenza seasons, where vaccination rates were above 90 percent. This decrease follows the removal of Joint Commission guidelines which required hospitals to establish vaccination standards and encouraged them to reach a 90 percent vaccination rate.
However, based on the HCP Influenza Vaccination Seasonal Survey, which was completed by 64 of the 81 reporting hospitals, a high percentage of hospitals still require the influenza vaccination as a condition of employment. This is encouraging and suggests that knowledge and opinions surrounding vaccination improved as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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