The DPH has released guidance for nursing homes and rest homes on the process to report mandatory healthcare personnel (HCP) influenza data to fulfill the requirement for submission of annual HCP influenza data to DPH by April 15, 2022. In addition the DPH has provided a list of resources to assist healthcare facilities in developing influenza campaigns and identifying best practices for increasing HCP vaccination rates.
As a reminder, as a condition of licensure, DPH healthcare facility regulations require all licensed healthcare facilities to:
- Offer free-of-charge, annual influenza vaccine to all personnel (full and part-time employees, contracted employees, volunteers, house staff and students);
- Document receipt of influenza vaccine administered within and outside the facility or document the declination of immunization; and
- Report information to DPH, documenting compliance with the vaccination requirement, in accordance with reporting and data collection guidelines of the Commissioner. DPH regulations do not allow for reporting unknown vaccine status.