Vaccination

Vaccination

Background

Patients/residents in healthcare facilities may be at greater risk for serious infections and complications from vaccine-preventable diseases due to age, weakened immune systems, or underlying health conditions. It is important to encourage staff members, patients, residents, visitors, and family members to get vaccinated. This will protect themselves from disease and help prevent the spread of disease within healthcare facilities and the community.

For detailed information on vaccinations in healthcare settings, please visit the Division of Immunization’s healthcare webpage or the >CDC Vaccines & Immunizations page.

 

 

 

Educational Resources

VDH Infection Prevention and Control Assessments: The HAI/AR team is available to conduct a no-cost, non-regulatory, onsite visit to help a facility identify its infection prevention strengths and areas of opportunity.

Health Quality Innovators

Immunize

Virginia Healthcare-Associated Infections Advisory Group

 

 

 

Setting-Specific Resources

Best Practices for Healthcare Settings

Healthcare personnel may be at risk for exposure to and transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases.  Maintenance of immunity is an essential part of prevention.

Suggested strategies include:

  • Learn about the different vaccines recommended for healthcare personnel in your setting.
  • Maintain your own individual vaccination record.
  • Help your facility keep accurate and up-to-date patient/resident and employee vaccination records.
  • Familiarize yourself with the child/adolescent and adult vaccination schedule recommendations (revised annually) and procedures for administration.
  • Get involved with influenza vaccination campaigns each year to encourage coworkers to protect themselves and their patients/residents.

 

 

 

Patient Resources

 

 

 

Data & Reporting

  • In January 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began requiring acute care hospitals participating in their Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program to report summary-level healthcare personnel (HCP) influenza vaccination rates to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).
    • In September 2015, the VDH healthcare-associated infection reporting regulations were updated to align state reporting requirements with the CMS Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program. Under these regulations, acute care hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities are reporting HCP influenza and COVID-19 vaccination data to VDH through NHSN for all inpatient HCP.
  • Table 1 describes current HCP vaccination reporting requirements for healthcare facilities in Virginia.
  • HCP influenza vaccination data are publicly available on the VDH HAI Data Reporting website.
  • HCP influenza and COVID-19 vaccination data are available on CMS Care Compare.
  • COVID-19 vaccination rates for nursing home residents are also available on CMS Care Compare.

Table 1. Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Reporting Requirements for Healthcare Facilities in Virginia

CMS Reporting Program  Healthcare Setting  Type of Vaccination  Reporting Start Date 
Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program  Acute care hospitals  Influenza  January 2013 
Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program  Acute care hospitals  COVID-19  October 2021 
Long-Term Care Hospital Quality Reporting Program  Long-term acute care hospitals  Influenza  October 2014 
Long-Term Care Hospital Quality Reporting Program  Long-term acute care hospitals  COVID-19  October 2021 
Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Quality Reporting Program  Inpatient rehabilitation facilities  Influenza  October 2014 
Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Quality Reporting Program  Inpatient rehabilitation facilities  COVID-19  October 2021 
Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program  Nursing homes  COVID-19  October 2021 
Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program  Nursing homes  Influenza  October 2022 
Ambulatory Surgery Centers Quality Reporting Program  Ambulatory surgery centers  COVID-19  January 2022 
Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program  Outpatient services at hospitals  COVID-19  January 2022 
Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Quality Reporting Program  Inpatient psychiatric facilities  COVID-19  October 2021 

 

Reporting Requirements:

 

 

 

Regulatory Resources

  • Federal regulations (Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Bloodborne Pathogen Standard 1910.1030) and state regulations (16VAC25-90-1910) require that employers comply with the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. 
    • One of the requirements of this standard is that employees who have occupational exposure to blood or other infectious materials be offered the hepatitis B vaccination series by the employer at no cost unless the employee has previously received the complete series, antibody testing has revealed that the employee is immune, or the vaccine is contraindicated (not recommended) for medical reasons. The vaccination series must be provided in accordance with the recommendations of the U.S. Public Health Service current at the time of the vaccination. This includes follow-up testing one to two months after the completion of the three-dose vaccination series to test for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen.
  • State regulations (12 VAC5-371-110) require nursing homes to provide or arrange for the administration of a pneumococcal vaccination and an annual influenza vaccination according to the most recent recommendations unless the vaccination is contraindicated or the resident declines the vaccination offer.
Last Updated: October 16, 2024