Uptake of flu vaccine among hospital healthcare workers falls to just ...

‘Concerted efforts’ required to increase vaccination rates says HPSC, as uptake among staff in long-term care facilities falls to just 42.

Uptake of the influenza vaccine among hospital healthcare workers fell to just 50.3 per cent last winter, new figures reveal.

In a survey of 55 public and private hospitals, 50.3 per cent of respondents said they received the vaccine in the 2023/24 winter season, down from 54.2 per cent the previous year and 64 per cent in winter 2021/22.

Uptake was highest among hospitals in the Dublin and Southeast region, at 56.6 per cent, and lowest in the West and Northwest (39.7 per cent).

The Southwest was the only other region to see vaccination rates drop below half (48.1 per cent). Dublin and Northeast hospitals had a 51.4 per cent uptake rate, while Midwest and Dublin and Midlands regions saw rates of 53.5 per cent and 53.9 per cent respectively.

In its latest update on infectious disease, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre said that the decline is ‘part of a downward trend that has been observed since the 2020/2021 season, when the Covid-19 pandemic reached its peak.’

It added: “The uptake target of 75 per cent for influenza vaccination among Health and Care Workers (HCWs) is therefore not being achieved and is worsening. As an infection control measure, achieving a high uptake of influenza vaccination among healthcare workers is crucial. Concerted efforts are required, not to just maintain vaccination rates but, to actively improve on them.”

The survey included 51 public and 4 private hospitals. In public hospitals medical and dental staff were the most likely to have received the flu vaccine last winter, with an uptake rate of 65.8 per cent. At 40.6 per cent, uptake was lowest among workers categorised as patient and client care staff.

The Tallaght unit of Children’s Health Ireland has the highest rate of uptake of any individual site, at 80.7 per cent. Conversely, just 29 per cent of healthcare workers in Mayo University Hospital took up the offer of the vaccine.

In long-term care facilities, uptake among workers fell from 48.9 per cent in 2022/2023 to just 42.8 per cent last winter.

The number of facilities participating in the survey fell slightly from 219 to 217. The majority (157) are HSE-run facilities, which had a slightly lower uptake rate (42.2 per cent) than the 60 private nursing homes surveyed (43.8 per cent).

Uptake was highest among management and administration staff (48.4 per cent in HSE homes and 54.9 per cent in private facilities) and lowest among patient and client care workers (39.1 per cent in HSE homes and 32.9 per cent in private facilities).

Since the height of the pandemic in 2020-2021, uptake among healthcare workers in HSE-only long-term care facilities has fallen from 66.3 per cent to 42.2 per cent. Declines occurred across each HSE regional area and within each staff category.

Nursing Homes Ireland CEO Tadhg Daly said the organisation, which represents private nursing homes, ‘has consistently promoted high levels of flu vaccine uptake among nursing home staff and remains committed to this effort in 2025.’

He added: “We support the HSE’s Winter Ready campaign and take every opportunity in our communications to encourage vaccination and share relevant educational resources. NHI continues to prioritise vaccination as a key measure in protecting the health of nursing home residents and staff alike.”

Residents of nursing homes were also surveyed. A slight fall was seen in uptake rates, from 93.8 per cent in winter 2022/23 to 90.1 per cent last year.

Among respite residents, vaccination rates fell from 72.8 per cent to 69.5 per cent.