Upcoming Change to NHSN Up to Date Definition for LTC COVID-19 Vaccine Reporting

• By: Maureen Carland
• On: 03/20/2024 11:45:25
• In: COVID-19

The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) is changing the definition of "up to date" for COVID-19 vaccine reporting in long term care (LTC) beginning Quarter 2 of 2024 (week of April 1, 2024).?This change, which reflects the latest guidance from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), aims to ensure the most effective vaccine protection for individuals, especially those aged 65 years and older.
 
Key Points 
The ACIP and CDC provided new recommendations of COVID-19 vaccines for individuals aged 65 years and older. 
 
Those 65 and older are now considered up to date when they have received 2 doses of the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine, or 1 dose of the updated vaccine in the past 4 months. 
 
For individuals under 65 years, there is no change; they are up to date with 1 dose of the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine since its approval in September 2023. 
 
The updated definition applies to both the NHSN Weekly HCP and Resident Vaccination Forms. 
 
These changes will be implemented at the beginning of Quarter 2 of 2024 (week of April 1, 2024). 
 
Data Reporting in Quarter 2 of 2024
Residents and health care personnel aged 65 and older should ONLY be counted as up to date after receiving a second dose of the 2023-2024 updated COVID-19 vaccine or if they have received 1 dose in the past 4 months. 
 
Avoid over-reporting: Residents aged 65 and older who have received only 1 dose of the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine more than 4 months ago should NOT be counted as up to date. 
 
Continue to count residents and health care personnel under 65 as up to date with 1 dose of the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine.
 
Click Here to Read More
 
Upcoming Training Webinars Hosted by NHSN
The NHSN Vaccination team will host two webinars to detail these changes to the surveillance definition of being up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. Both webinars cover the same information. After registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail containing information about joining the webinar. 
 
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET
Register in advance for this webinar.
 
Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET
Register in advance for this webinar.
 
 
Staff contact: mcarland@mehca.org