NHSN to Update Definition of "Up to Date" for COVID Vaccination Status Reporting
(Sept. 24, 2024) Starting with the reporting week spanning Sept. 30th through Oct. 6th, the definition of “up to date” that nursing homes use in their weekly reporting of COVID-19 vaccination data through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) will change. As of that week, individuals will be considered up to date with COVID-19 vaccination if they have received the 2024-2025 updated COVID-19 vaccine. As has been the case each time that a new definition goes into effect, most individuals will not be up to date. Providers should appropriately report the numbers of staff and residents who are up to date based on the new definition, which is expected to increase with the uptake of the 2024-2025 vaccine. The definitions for reporting purposes are provided here (although as of this writing, the definition had not yet been updated for the reporting quarter starting Sept. 30th).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is also making changes to the form in the Respiratory Pathogens module, which nursing homes use to report resident COVID-19 data through the NHSN. The new form will include vaccination, case, and hospitalization data for COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). COVID-19 vaccination, case, and hospitalization data are required reporting; flu and RSV reporting, while reflected on the same form, remain optional.
The CDC held a training webinar to review these changes on Sept. 24th and will repeat the event on Oct. 1st and 9th at 1 p.m. each day. Register for the Oct. 1st webinar here and for the Oct. 9th webinar here.
Contact: Darius Kirstein, dkirstein@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8841