Highlights
- •Documented resident influenza vaccination uptake was consistently high; less so for pneumococcal and herpes zoster vaccination.
- •For a significant proportion of residents their documented pneumococcal and herpes vaccination status was reported as unknown.
- •To enhance the quality of reported data, strategies that at least determine the vaccination status of residents classified as unknown are required.
Abstract
Background
For older persons, vaccination mitigates the harmful impact of vaccine preventable
infections. Our study objectives were to evaluate in the Victorian public sector residential
aged care services (PSRACS) (1) the existence of local vaccination policies and admission
assessment practices, (2) the current documented status of resident influenza, pneumococcal
and herpes zoster vaccination uptake and (3) changes in documented resident vaccination
uptake over time.
Methods
Standardised data were annually reported by all PSRACS between 2018 and 2022. The
influenza, pneumococcal and herpes zoster vaccination status of each resident was
classified as vaccinated, declined, contraindicated or unknown. Annual trends in vaccination
status were assessed using Spearman's correlation.
Results
In 2022, most PSRACS reported an influenza immunisation policy existed (87.1%) and
new residents were assessed for their influenza vaccination status (97.2%); fewer
PSRACS reported the same for pneumococcal disease (73.1% and 78.9%) and herpes zoster
(69.3% and 75.6%). The median resident influenza, pneumococcal and herpes zoster (70–79
years old) vaccination uptake was 86.8%, 32.8% and 19.3% respectively. The median
unknown status was 6.9%, 63.0% and 76.0% respectively. Statistical evidence of an
increase in annual uptake was observed for the herpes zoster (all resident) surveillance
module (rs = 0.900, p = 0.037).
Conclusions
Our study showed local influenza vaccination policies and practices exist and influenza
vaccination uptake was consistently high. Pneumococcal and herpes zoster vaccination
uptake were lower. Quality improvement strategies that at least determine the status
of those residents classified as unknown are required.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 03, 2023
Accepted:
March 19,
2023
Received in revised form:
March 9,
2023
Received:
September 21,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2023 Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
