MMWR – Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

News Summary for August 18, 2011

1. Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Health-Care Personnel — United States, 2010—11 Influenza Season

CDC Division of News and Electronic Media
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Although influenza vaccination levels have improved over the past few years, vaccination coverage among health-care personnel (HCP)remains below our 2020 national health objectives. All HCP should be vaccinated annually for influenza, according to recommendations from the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). In a national survey conducted in April 2011 of 1,931 HCP, influenza vaccination coverage among all HCP for the 2010-11 season was 63.5 percent, with coverage of 84 percent among physicians and 70 percent among nurses.  Near universal coverage was achieved among HCP who reported being subject to an employer requirement for vaccination.  In the absence of requirements, increased vaccination coverage was associated with vaccination being offered to HCP onsite free of charge for multiple days.  Influenza vaccination coverage among HCP is important for patient safety, and healthcare administrators should make vaccination readily accessible to all HCP as an important part of any comprehensive infection control program.

2. Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Pregnant Women — United States, 2010—11 Influenza Season

CDC Division of News and Electronic Media
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Pregnant women are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality from influenza infection during pregnancy. Vaccinating pregnant women for influenza protects both the women and their infants, especially infant younger than 6 months who are not old enough to get influenza vaccination. Despite the long-standing recommendation of influenza vaccination for pregnant women, the vaccination level among them was historically low prior to the 2009-10 season. During the 2009-10 season, about half of pregnant women were vaccinated, and this level was sustained during the 2010-11 season (49 percent). Women who were offered influenza vaccination by a provider offer were five times as likely to be vaccinated as women who didn’t receive an offer from a provider. However, four out of 10 women in this survey did not receive a provider offer. Health care providers need to strongly recommend and offer inactivated influenza vaccination to their pregnant patients. Vaccinating pregnant women against influenza protects both women and their infants.

3.Legionellosis — United States, 2000—2009

CDC Division of News and Electronic Media
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The number of legionellosis cases reported each year to CDC among United States residents more than tripled between 2000 and 2009 from 1,110 cases to 3,522 cases. Older individuals and people living in the Northeast are most at risk for developing legionellosis, although legionellosis occurred in all age groups and regions. Legionellosis can refer to either Legionnaires disease, a serious, sometimes lethal pneumonia, or Pontiac fever, a flu-like, self-limited illness, but almost all of the cases reported to CDC were Legionnaires disease. CDC is working with state health departments to determine why the number of reported legionellosis cases is increasing. Rising numbers of elderly persons and other persons at high-risk for infection as well as increased case detection or reporting may have contributed.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES