Flu Hospitalizations In Elderly Up, Immunization in LTC Workers Low

Only about half of long-term care workers have received the flu vaccine, according to new information from the CDC. This is especially worrisome considering that the flu has hit the elderly hard this year.

Hospitalizations related to laboratory-confirmed flu cases among those 65 and older have reached a rate of 82 per 100,000 people. By comparison, the rate for all age groups is 19 per 100,000 people. The CDC notes that these figures are undoubtedly low because influenza-rated hospitalizations can be missed because of lack of testing or because cases may be attributed to other illnesses.

The CDC's vaccination data notes that only about 50 percent of long-term care workers have received the flu vaccine, compared to 85 percent of pharmacists, doctors and nurses. They point out that vaccination routinely reaches 90 percent or higher at facilities that provide the flu vaccine during work hours.

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