MMWR News Synopsis for September 28, 2017

Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Health Care Personnel — United States, 2016–17 Influenza Season

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

CDC and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) recommend that all U.S. health care workers get vaccinated annually against influenza. CDC recommends that all health care personnel (HCP) receive an annual flu vaccination to reduce flu-related morbidity and mortality among HCP and their patients. We analyzed data from an internet panel survey to measure what proportion of HCP received the flu vaccine during the 2016-17 flu season. Based on the data:

• 79 percent of survey respondents reported receiving vaccination, which is similar coverage during the past three flu seasons.
• Vaccination coverage continued to be higher among HCP working in hospitals (92 percent) and lower among HCP working in ambulatory (76 percent) and long-term care settings (68 percent).
• As in previous seasons, coverage was highest among HCP who were required by their employer to be vaccinated (97 percent) and lowest among HCP working in settings where vaccination was not required, promoted, or offered onsite (46 percent).

Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Pregnant Women — United States, 2016–17 Influenza Season

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

CDC recommends that pregnant women get a flu shot during any trimester of their pregnancy to protect themselves and their newborn babies from flu. Pregnant women are at risk for severe flu-associated illness and, since 2004, CDC has recommended flu vaccination for all women who are or will be pregnant during the flu season. We analyzed data from an internet panel survey to measure what proportion of pregnant women received the flu vaccine during the 2016-17 flu season. Based on the data:

• 54 percent of pregnant women reported being vaccinated before (16 percent) or during (37 percent) pregnancy, which is similar to coverage during the past four flu seasons.
• 67 percent of women reported receiving a provider offer for influenza vaccination, 12 percent received a recommendation but no offer, and 21 percent received no recommendation; among these women, influenza vaccination coverage was 71 percent, 44 percent, and 15 percent, respectively.

Evaluation of the Impact of Mandating Health Care Providers to Offer Hepatitis C Virus Screening to All Persons Born During 1945–1965 — New York, 2014

New York State Department of Health Public Affairs Group
518-474-7354 Ext. 1

State-level HCV testing laws may increase the number of people who know their HCV status and of HCV-infected persons who are linked to care. Mandating providers to offer HCV screening to people born during 1945–1965 was associated with an increase in HCV testing rates, in the number of people tested for HCV, and in the number of people with HCV infection linked to care in New York.

Notes from the Field:

• Outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni Associated with Consuming Undercooked Chicken Liver Mousse — Clark County, Washington, 2016

Quick Stats:

• Death Rates for Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis, by Sex and Age Group — National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2000 and 2015

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety, and security. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, stem from human error or deliberate attack, CDC is committed to respond to America’s most pressing health challenges.