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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2023)
November 01, 2023 Page 9 Flu Vaccination Rates Remain Low! OHA data show rates slow to recover after big drop during pandemic Influenza vaccination rates among Oregon’s health care per- sonnel have not recovered from significant declines suffered during the COVID-19 pandem- ic, new Oregon Health Authority (OHA) data show. According to the Healthcare Worker Influenza Vaccination Dashboard published by OHA’s Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Program, 64% of the state’s eligible health care workers from all facility types were vaccinated against the flu during the 2022-2023 flu season. This is similar to the 2021-2022 flu season rate of 63% -- a con- cern for state officials trying to prevent the virus’s spread to peo- ple most at risk of severe illness and death. The influenza vaccination rate among eligible health care work- ers had dropped by 25% between the 2019-2020 and 2022-2023 A pharmacist administers a Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine at a drug store, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, in Cypress, Texas. Fall 2023 vaccination season is in full swing, with health officials in the U.S. urging both an updated COVID-19 shot and flu vaccine for most everyone. New this year are vaccines for older adults and women in late pregnancy to guard against another virus named RSV. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via AP) influenza seasons. “Health care workers are the first line of de- fense in protecting vulnerable patients and preventing a severe respiratory virus season from becoming a catastrophic one,” said Rebecca Pierce, Ph.D., HAI Program manager. “That’s why influenza vaccination of health care workers is a key strategy for infection control in health care facilities.” OHA requires annual report- ing of health care worker influ- enza vaccination data from four facility types – ambulatory sur- gery centers, dialysis centers, hospitals (including inpatient psychiatric facilities) and nurs- ing facilities.“Influenza vacci- nations among health care work- ers were significantly impacted during the pandemic, which is likely reflective of historically low rates of influenza during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 flu seasons,” Pierce said. “However, flu transmission has returned to pre-pandemic levels. It’s import- ant that we focus on rebuilding flu vaccination rates for this crit- ical, front-line workforce.” The proportion of eligible health care workers who de- clined flu vaccination has in- creased over the years. For the 2022-2023 flu season, 15% de- clined, compared to 11% for the 2021-2022 season. The U.S. Department of Health and Hu- man Services developed Healthy People 2020 with 10-year objec- tives for improving the health of all Americans, including show- ing progress toward a 90% in- fluenza vaccination goal for the health care workforce. However, because Healthy People 2030 does not include a goal focused on increasing flu vaccinations among health care workers, Ore- gon continues to use the Healthy People 2020 goal as a way of di- recting public health action and showing where more support and education is needed. To achieve 90% influenza vacci- nation coverage, Pierce said there are important steps health care facilities can take. Among public health recommendations is en- couraging health care workers, in- cluding those not employed by the facility—contractors and volun- teers—to get vaccinated at the be- ginning of every influenza season. Questions about your health care? Find us in your neighborhood. NOVEMBER 2 NOVEMBER 13 Street Roots 9-10:30 a.m. 211 NW Davis St, Portland Mobile Showers 12-2 p.m. 247 SE 82nd Ave, Portland Clark Center (for residents only) 9-10:30 a.m. 1437 SE MLK Blvd, Portland Mobile Showers 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 4244 SE 91st Ave, Portland NOVEMBER 6 NOVEMBER 16 Doreen’s Place (for residents only) 12-2:30 p.m. 610 NW Broadway St, Portland Street Roots 9-10:30 a.m. 211 NW Davis St, Portland Mobile Showers 12-2 p.m. 247 SE 82nd Ave, Portland NOVEMBER 7 careoregon.org/ connect-to-care Resource Center 9-11 a.m. 650 NW Irving St, Portland River District Navigation Center (for residents only) 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 1111 NW Naito Pkwy, Portland Jean’s Place (for residents only) 1:30-3:30 p.m. 18 NE 11th Ave, Portland Union Gospel Mission 2-3 p.m. 3 NW 3rd Ave, Portland NOVEMBER 20 Doreen’s Place (for residents only) 12-2:30 p.m. 610 NW Broadway St, Portland NOVEMBER 21 Union Gospel Mission 2-3 p.m. 3 NW 3rd Ave, Portland connect to care
