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NHSN Modifies 'Up to Date' definitions for LTC Reporting Requirements

The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) has modified its definition of “up to date” for long-term care facilities submitting their COVID-19 data to the system. It comes in the wake of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's making the move earlier.

The NHSN now considers individuals up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines, during the October 2021 – June 2022 surveillance period, if they've received all recommended doses in their primary vaccine series and received at least one booster dose.

Individuals currently DO NOT need to receive a second booster dose to be considered up to date, officials with NHSN wrote in its May 2022 guidance to providers.
 
The CDC recently changed its up to date definition after it decided to strengthen COVID-19 booster recommendations for seniors. The agency now says that those 50 and older should receive a second booster four months or more after their first booster to be considered up to date with their shots.

In order to help facilities understand all the nuanced definitions between NHSN and CDC we have compiled a list of NHSN resource documents for members to reference when submitting this mandatory reporting. 

Below are helpful reference documents from NHSN:

Staff Contact:
dwatford@mehca.org